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Soldiers

Militants Attack Russian Air Base in Syria, Killing Two Soldiers

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Militants attacked a Russian air base in Syria, killing two soldiers, in an incident that has heightened tensions in the region. The attack, which took place on Tuesday, was carried out by two foreign fighters affiliated with the new Syrian defense forces. The two militants who launched the attack were also killed. The Syrian government has not officially commented on the incident, and Russia's ministry of defense has declined to respond to requests for comment.

Key Takeaways:

  • Two soldiers were killed in the attack on the Russian air base in Syria.
  • The attackers were believed to be foreign fighters affiliated with the new Syrian defense forces.
  • The two militants who launched the attack were also killed.
  • The Syrian government has not officially commented on the incident.
  • Russia's ministry of defense has declined to respond to requests for comment.
  • The attack took place on Tuesday at the Hmeimim air base on Syria's coast.
  • The base has been home to thousands of Alawite civilians who took refuge there during sectarian attacks on civilians.
  • Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov publicly condemned what he called "ethnic cleansing" in Syria on Tuesday, but did not mention the reported attack on the air base.
  • The new government of Syria has been under pressure from the US and other countries to deal with the ranks of foreign Islamist fighters who joined the armed opposition to Assad.
  • The former Syrian President Bashar Assad, who was a close ally of Russia, was granted asylum in Russia after he was ousted.

Statistics:

  • 2: The number of soldiers killed in the attack on the Russian air base in Syria.
  • 2: The number of militants who launched the attack and were also killed.
  • 1: The number of Russian air bases in Syria.
  • 1: The number of times Russia has publicly condemned "ethnic cleansing" in Syria.
  • Thousands: Number of Alawite civilians who took refuge in the Hmeimim base during sectarian attacks on civilians.

Sources:

  • Syrian government official (anonymous)
  • Local activist (anonymous)
  • Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
  • Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

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