Syria repels militant drone attack on Hmeimim airbase in Latakia
Syrian air defense forces have reportedly managed to foil an attack by foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants against the country’s strategic Hmeimim air base in Syria's western coastal province of Latakia.
As Reported by Qods News Agency (Qodsna) Syria’s state-run al-Ikhbariyah Syria television news network reported that the country's anti-aircraft defense systems intercepted unmanned aerial vehicles attacking the base on Tuesday evening.
The report added that explosions were heard as anti-aircraft defenses opened fire at the drones.
On August 5, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants had shelled the outskirts of the strategic Hmeimim air base, injuring a number of people.
The statement noted that the barrage did not hit the airbase, and that the military site is continuing its operations as normal.
“The projectiles, instead, slammed into a nearby civilian village. According to Syrian security bodies, the militant shells fell on Ruaisaid Afif, resulting in injuries to four local residents," the ministry pointed out.
Russia has foiled several missile attacks by militants on the Hmeimim air base.
Back on May 23, the Russian Defense Ministry said its surface-to-air missile systems had managed to foil an attack by foreign-backed militants on the air base.
The ministry announced in a statement that militants positioned in the de-escalation zone of Syria's northwestern province of Idlib had launched four missiles at the strategic base.
The statement added that Russian air defense systems destroyed all the projectiles before they could strike the site.
The development came only a day after foreign-backed militants fired a barrage of missiles at the same Russian military site.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that eight rockets launched by the extremists failed to reach the Hmeimim air base, while another nine were shot down by Russian air defense systems.
Russia has been helping Syrian forces in ongoing battles across the conflict-plagued Arab country.
The Russian military assistance, which began in September 2015 at the official request of the Syrian government, has proved effective as Syrians continue to recapture key areas from Daesh and other foreign-backed
terrorist groups across the country with the backing of Russian air cover.
Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian government says the Israeli regime and its Western and regional allies are aiding Takfiri terrorist groups that are wreaking havoc in the country.