A Russian Su-24 strike aircraft in the sky over the Khmeimim airbase in Syria. Photo: Dmitriy Vinogradov / RIA Novosti
Late on April 19, a series of Russian airstrikes hit the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib, which is ruled by al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
At least four airstrikes hit positions of HTS and its allies between the towns of al-Bara and Ehsim in the al-Zawiya Mount in the southern countryside of Idlib. The results of the airstrikes are yet to be revealed.
الطيران الحربي الروسي يقصف بالصواريخ بلدة #البارة بريف #ادلب الجنوبي
pic.twitter.com/7vxHgWjTkz— Âla hacıoğlu 🌸🇹🇷 (@ala_hacioglu) April 19, 2022
The airstrikes were a response to recent violations of the ceasefire agreement in Greater Idlib, which was brokered by Russia and Turkey more than two years ago.
According to the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria, HTS carried out two indirect fire attacks on government-held areas around Greater Idlib on April 19 in a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement.
This was the third wave of Russian airstrikes to target Greater Idlib this April. The first and second waves, which took place on April 4 and 9, also targeted positions of HTS and its allies in the al-Zawiya Mount.
Terrorists in Greater Idlib hoped that the Russian military would limit, or even completely halt operations in Syria after launching its special military operation in Ukraine. However, the Russian military grouping in Syria continue to operate as usual.
For the last two months, the Russian Aerospace Forces have been very active against HTS and its allies in Greater Idlib as well as against ISIS cells in the central region of Syria.
