Russian Anti-Aircraft Weapon Downs Drone Targeting Hmeymim Airbase

MOSCOW- The anti-aircraft defense of the Russian airbase Hmeymim in Syria shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launched from the area controlled by militants in the Lattakia province in early hours of July 21, Major General Alexei Tsygankov, the head of the Russian center for  coordination and reconciliation, told reporters on Saturday, according to Itar Tass.

“Early on [Saturday] July 21, the airspace control means of the Russian air base Hmeymim spotted an UAV launched from the area controlled by illegal armed groups in the north of Latakia province,” Tsygankov said. “Regular anti-aircraft weapons shot down the target away from the airbase. There were neither casualties nor damage. The Russian airbase Hmeymim is operating in a scheduled mode.”

 According to Tsygankov, terrorist groups keep violating the ceasefire in the Idlib de-escalation zone. Government positions and residential areas located nearby the line of disengagement in the provinces of Latakia, Aleppo and Hama come under mortar and artillery fire every day.

H.M