A Russian Su-24 takes off on a combat mission at Hemeimeem airbase, Syria, on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015. IMAGE: AP PHOTO/VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV
In the early hours of March 21, warplanes of the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out a series of airstrikes on radical militants’ positions in the northern Syrian governorate of Idlib.
According to the pro-opposition news outlet, Enab Baladi, the airstrikes covered the city of Jisr al-Shughur and the town of Frikeh in northwestern Idlib and the towns of Sheikh Mustafa, Kafr Rumah, Maar Tahroma, al-Hamidiah, Hish, Bsida, Faqie, Qasabiyeh and Tal’as in the southern part of the governorate.
The aerial attack was likely a response to new violations of the Russian-Turkish demilitarized zone agreement. Two days ago, radical militants targeted a civilian bus near the city of Aleppo killing two young children. Later, militants shelled several residential areas in northern Hama.
Such aerial attacks usually target fortifications, headquarters, communication centers and ammo depots of terrorist groups like Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP).
The Russian Aerospace Forces will likely continue its aerial operations against Idlib militants, as they are apparently unwilling to respect any agreement.
