Russian Warplanes Continue To Hammer Militant Positions In Greater Idlib (Videos, Photos)

A Russian Su-24 takes off on a combat mission at Hemeimeem airbase, Syria, on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015. IMAGE: AP PHOTO/VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV

On December 30 afternoon, a new wave of Russian airstrikes hit the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib where several terrorist groups are active.

At least four airstrikes hit the outskirts of the town of Sheikh Bahir in the northern countryside of Idlib. The targets were likely positions of al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the de-facto ruler of Greater Idlib.

During the airstrikes, militants of HTS and its allies attempted to shot down Russian warplanes with heavy machine guns. However, they failed.

لحظة الغارة من الطيران الحربي الروسي على منطقة الشيخ بحر شمال ادلب قبل قليل https://t.co/zo4xJNDSXe pic.twitter.com/FlLBUwxVkz

— انس المعراوي (@anasanas84) December 30, 2021

تحليق متواصل للطيران الحربي الروسي في سماء إدلب ومناطق شمال غربي سوريا.

قصفت الطائرات منطقة الشيخ بحر وطالت الغارات أطراف معرة مصرين في ريف إدلب. pic.twitter.com/fm5UDb2S10

— خالدالخطيب (@khaleedalkhteb) December 30, 2021

تجدد غارات الحربي الروسي على محيط منطقة الشيخ بحر بريف إدلب الغربي
4 غارات روسية جديدة بالقرب من المخيمات دون تسجيل إصابات ولله الحمد… pic.twitter.com/uszUGCMBGZ

— المرصد أبو أمين 80 (@Najdat567) December 30, 2021

In the morning, five Russian airstrikes targeted the outskirts of the towns of Barisha, Kafr Aruq and Ma’arrat Misrin in the northern and eastern countryside of Idlib. Three other airstrikes hit the Sheikh Baraka Mount near the town of Darat Izza in the western Aleppo countryside.

The Russian Aerospace Forces intensified their operations against HTS and its allies this week in response to repeated violations of the ceasefire in the Greater Idlib.

The ceasefire, which was brokered by Russia and Turkey more than a year ago, is barely holding up. The situation in Greater Idlib will likely escalate further next year.

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