Thai police have come under fire
Radical Islamists fired mortars at the Russian air base in Syria.
As it became known “Kommersant”, December 31 on the base Hamim (the Syrian province of Latakia) was one of the most serious accidents in the two and a half years of conducting military air operations in Syria. According to “Kommersant”, the day the airbase came under a mortar attack by radical Islamists, owing to what was destroyed, at least four front-line bomber su-24, two multi-purpose fighter su-35S and one military transport aircraft An-72. Wounds could get more than ten soldiers.
About the emergency at Syrian airbase Hamim “b” has learned of two military-diplomatic sources. Without going into detail, they reported that one of the militants of terrorist groups shelled a Russian military facility in Syria, so that was actually destroyed four bombers su-24, two su-35S, one transport An-72 and an ammunition dump, sdetonirovala after being hit by a mortar shell.
In total, according to unofficial data, could suffer more than ten soldiers.
In the defense Ministry, the incident had no immediate comment on: the military only officially confirmed the death of two pilots who, in that day, a Russian helicopter Mi-24. According to the defense Ministry, no fire impact on the helicopter were not summed to the technique itself.
The incident in Mamimi can be considered one of the most serious for all time of operation in Syria.
First, all the losses — both military and no — wore during the campaign, rare, mass destruction of Russian military equipment was not recorded. Secondly, until 31 December, the Russian air defense system did not commit any violation of the security zones bases in Tartus and Mamimi. However, on the day of the air defense system did not help.
It is noteworthy that on December 7 the chief of the main operations Directorate of the General staff of the armed forces of the Russian Federation Sergey rudskoy did not rule out the emergence of separate diversionary groups of militants “Islamic state” (banned in Russia) in the liberated areas in Syria. “In this case, they will be destroyed by the forces of government troops, which have specially trained mobile reserves,” he said. But these reserves were not enough.
Note that President Vladimir Putin has ordered the withdrawal of most Russian forces and equipment from Syria on 11 December. Then he called for Hamim, where he thanked the military for “the brilliant execution of their tasks,” noting that Syria has preserved as a sovereign and independent state, and the country has created the conditions for a political settlement under UN auspices.
11 days later, defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to the President of the Russian Federation, in places of permanent deployment to Russia from Syria returned 36 aircraft and four helicopters, six Tu-22 bombers, and 157 units of automotive equipment were delivered to Russia by sea. It can be assumed that after the incident of the aircraft will be returned to Hamim recovery flight crews of the group.