A Russian Su-24 strike aircraft in the sky over the Khmeimim airbase in Syria. Photo: Dmitriy Vinogradov / RIA Novosti
On January 2, warplanes of the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out at least ten airstrikes on the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib where several terrorist groups are active.
The airstrikes targeted the western outskirts of Idlib city, the town of Sheikh Yousef in the western Idlib countryside and the outskirts of the town of Arihah in the southern countryside of the governorate.
The targets were most likely positions of al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the de-facto ruler of Greater Idlib.
غارات طيران الإحتلال #الروسي تستهدف شرقي مدينة #أريحا ومازال الطيران في السماء بالتنفيذ pic.twitter.com/ApPgLcP1tx
— غياث فرزات (@farzat1711) January 2, 2022
#سوريا #ادلب الطيران الروسي يقصف (محطة مياه ادلب) التي تغذي المدينة بالمياه، مما أدى لخروجها عن الخدمة. pic.twitter.com/6XTZA9x68M
— Syria Post سوريا بوست (@syriapostnew1) January 2, 2022
الطيران الحربي يستهدف بعدة صواريخ موقعاً للمسلحين في محيط بلدة مصيبين شرق مدينة اريحا pic.twitter.com/Ln8LrAzIYX
— ملك السلطنه (@jamlyyyyy_) January 2, 2022
الطيران الحربي ينفذ غارة ثانية على مواقع المسلحين في محيط بلدة مصبيين شرق مدينة اريحا pic.twitter.com/GinrA3yuIB
— ملك السلطنه (@jamlyyyyy_) January 2, 2022
Russian warplanes have been bombing Greater Idlib for the last few days. The recent airstrikes on the region were apparently a response to ceasefire violations by HTS and its allies. On January 2 only, the terrorist group and its allies, including Turkish backed groups, shelled government-held areas in the northern Lattakia countryside, the northwestern countryside of Hama and the southern Idlib countryside.
The situation in Greater Idlib may escalate even further in the upcoming few days. HTS and its allies are clearly not willing to respect the ceasefire, which was brokered by Russia and Turkey more than a year ago.
Meanwhile, the Turkish military who maintains more than a 60 positions across Greater Idlib is doing nothing to secure or stabilize the region.
Condolences to the fallen wahabimossad and CIAisis operators. May they rest in pieces…