Syrian opposition rebels strike Hmeymim Russian airbase in Syria
The Turkish newspaper, Hurriyet, reported that on November 26, oppositionists from Ahrar ash-Sham carried out an artillery strike on Russian airbase Hmeymim in Syrian Latakia. Artillery shelling at the airbase of Russian aviation resulted in deaths and injuries. The sources claim that none of the Russian planes went up into the sky after artillery strike.
The Israeli branch of International Volunteer Group, Inform Napalm, confirmed that there is a large number of wounded individuals, and there were also casualties at the Russian Hmeymim airbase. The exact number of victims wasn’t mentioned. The group found video materials showing the shelling of the Russian military base by artillery from Harakat Ahrar ash-Sham al-Islamiyya.
It’s known that the members of this Syrian rebel group are affiliated with the Coalition of multiple Islamists and Salafist units which fight against Bashar al-Assad’s Government Army and militants of Shabiha, and Hezbollah. Also, the terrorist group Islamic State (ISIS) and Russia are among the enemies of the aforementioned armed groups.
The probable reason for the attack of Ahrar ash-Sham on Russian base Hmeymim was the revenge for the assassination of their leader Abu Bakr al-Shishani, who died as a result of Russian aviation strike in the province of Homs on October 14, 2015. The Russian side hasn’t yet commented on this information. Most likely within a day after the incident, the absence of comments from Russian officials is an attempt to cover up losses of the Russian military officers.