Russian Airstrikes Hit Greater Idlib After Deadly Attack On Syrian Army Position

A Russian Su-24 strike aircraft in the sky over the Khmeimim airbase in Syria. Photo: Dmitriy Vinogradov / RIA Novosti

On August 26, the Russian Aerospace Forces launched a series of airstrikes on the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib in response to a deadly attack that targeted a nearby position of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA).

The SAA position, which is located near the town of Milaja in the southern Idlib countryside, was blown up from an underground tunnel then raided by militants. Al-Qaeda-affiliated Haya’t Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the de-facto ruler of Greater Idlib, and one of its key allies, Ansar al-Tawhid, were reportedly behind the attack.

In most recent updates, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that 11 soldiers of the SAA were killed and 20 others were wounded in the attack. These claims are yet to be verified, however.

The Russian retaliatory airstrikes targeted several positions of HTS and its allies near the town of Fatterah, which is located right to the northwest of Milaja.

The situation remains tense along the frontline between Milaja and Fatterah with reports of artillery strikes by the SAA against the positions of HTS and its allies.

The attack on Milaja position was a blatant violation of the ceasefire in Greater Idlib that was brokered by Russia and Turkey more than three years ago.

The SAA and the Russian military will likely launch more strikes against positions of HTS and its allies in the upcoming few days in order to reinforce the ceasefire and stabilize the situation in Greater Idlib. A new ground operation in the region remains highly unlikely due to the objection of Turkey, who maintains a large force there.

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