Jihadis Stage Large Offensive in Idlib, Attack Russia Hmeymim Base, Syrian Army

May 22, 2019 (EIRNS)—Today, the Hayat Tahrir ash-Sham (HTS) terrorists, formerly known as the al-Nusra Front, affiliated with Al Qaeda, launched three massive attacks against the Syrian Arab Army in Kafr Nabuda in Idlib province, firing at Russia’s Hmeymim airbase 17 missiles, which, however, were either intercepted or fell short of their targets, RT and TASS reported. The attack failed, and the Syrian army killed 150 terrorists and destroyed 3 tanks, and 24 trucks with mounted machine guns.

According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, militants also tried to break through government defenses near the Al Hayrat settlement, TASS reported.

At the Hmeymim base, air defenses intercepted 9 missiles, and 8 others hit the ground before reaching their targets. According to RT’s report, the attack included 500 militants, 7 tanks, 4 armored personnel carriers, 30 trucks with mounted machine guns, and 2 explosives-laden vehicles driven by suicide bombers.

This isn’t the first time that the Hmeymim base has been attacked by terrorists. Although previous attacks have failed, the Russian military has warned that the advanced technology used by the jihadists could be used against “less-protected targets in Syria and abroad.”