![The Russian base at Hmeimim has been used to support Bashar al-Assad's regime in the Syrian conflict [Getty]](https://www.newarab.com/sites/default/files/2022-07/GettyImages-1171376970.jpg)
Russia says it shot down two drones over Hmeimim base in Syria
Russia says it shot down two drones over Hmeimim base in Syria
Russian forces say they have shot down two drones over the strategic Hmeimim airbase in northwestern Syria.
1 min read
The Russian base at Hmeimim has been used to support Bashar al-Assad's regime in the Syrian conflict [Getty]
Russian forces in Syria on Wednesday shot down two drones over their military base at Hmeimim, Russian news agencies reported early on Thursday morning.
“On July 20, 2022, at about 10:10 p.m., Russian air defense systems detected unmanned aerial vehicles approaching the area of the Russian Khmeimim airbase from the northeast,” the RIA Novosti news agency said.
A Russian defence official said there had been no casualties or damage.
Russia intervened in the Syrian conflict in 2015 in order to support the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
Hmeimim near Latakia in northwestern Syria is one of Russia’s most important bases in the war-torn country and has been attacked numerous times before by rebel drones.
The Syrian conflict broke out in 2011 after the Assad regime brutally suppressed peaceful pro-democracy protests. Over 500,000 people have been killed and millions more displaced, mostly as a result of regime bombardment of civilian areas.
The Russian intervention helped turn the tide of the Syrian conflict in favour of the Syrian regime after it lost control of much of the country to anti-Assad rebels and jihadist groups.
More In News
