A Russian Su-24 strike aircraft in the sky over the Khmeimim airbase in Syria. Photo: Dmitriy Vinogradov / RIA Novosti
On April 23, a new wave of Russian airstrikes hit the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib, which is controlled by al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
The airstrikes targeted militants’ positions in the outskirts of the town of Kabani in the northern Lattakia countryside. The mountainous town is an infamous stronghold of HTS and several other terrorist groups, like the Turkistan Islamic Party and Ajnad al-Kavkaz.
Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
This was the fifth wave of Russian airstrikes to target positions of HTS and its allies in Greater Idlib since the beginning of April.
The previous wave of airstrikes, which took place on April 22 morning, targeted militants’ positions in the outskirts of the town of Ruweiha in the southern Idlib countryside and near the town of al-Enkawi in the northwestern countryside of Hama.
Late on the same day, Russian warplanes carried out a series of “mock airstrikes” with flash bombs over the towns of al-Bara and Maraat Misrin in the southern Idlib countryside, al-Fou’ah in the eastern countryside of Idlib, al-Dana and Atimah in the northern Idlib countryside and Darat Izza in the western countryside of Aleppo. The mock airstrikes were apparently a warning to HTS and its allies.
The recent Russian airstrikes were likely a response to violations of the ceasefire in Greater Idlib, which was brokered by Russia and Turkey more than two years ago.
The ceasefire in Greater Idlib is still holding up. However, HTS and other terrorist groups, including ISIS, have been taking advantage of the ceasefire to further expand their influence in the region. Turkey, who maintains a large force in Greater Idlib, is yet to take action against these groups.
