On July 15, Russian forces foiled another attempt to attack the Hmeimim airbase in the western Syrian province of Lattakia with armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). According to local sources, Russian air defense systems shot down several UAVs over the base.
Usually, Russian forces use the Pantsir-S1 medium-range surface-to-air air defense systems to intercept UAVs. The Russian-made system intercepted dozens of armed UAVs since the beginning of this year.
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These armed UAVs are usually launched from the de-escalation zone in the northern governorate of Idlib. Local observers believe that radical militants of the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) are behind these attacks.
Since the beginning of this month, the militants stepped up their attacks on Hmeimim airbase in what appears to be a desperate attempt to deter the Russian Aerospace Forces. These violation of the de-escalation zone may force the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies to resume their operations in Idlib soon.
They only seem to be broadcasting incidents when they successfully shoot something down. Who says there aren’t frequent spy drone overflights?
Model airplanes.
So they don’t want to destroy Russian planes, just take pics?
Just cheap components and no sophisticated camera for spying just shoot them down with local Druze militia AKs nothing fancy.
Firstly, these militant launched drones operate at a very low flight ceiling, with guidance and suicide attack, not information transmission, technology, and secondly, what would be point of reconnaissance overflight given the militants cannot access the area and have no air force?! These are simply ongoing harassment and AA-defense testing drones (actions likely pursued for the militant’s foriegn sponsors benefit). As for ‘spying overflights’ above Hmeimim, you do realize localized and very low level drone flights are rather redundant, given that NATO has access to US satellites….
Well done Russia. These are Israeli DIY home made drones to invade Hamim airbase but Israel will never succeed in their dirty dreams.
No they are US defense contractor made ones part of “Drone Swarm testing” have been seeing how to make them cheap and disposable.
more raison for offensive the SAA and allied against the province djihadiste of idliebistan!!! the turks any be nothing!!