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| Syrian airbase used by Russia damaged in Isis attack – report | Syrian airbase used by Russia damaged in Isis attack – report |
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| Satellite imagery appears to show extensive damage to an airbase used by Russian forces in Syria after an attack by Isis fighters, the US intelligence company Stratfor has said. | Satellite imagery appears to show extensive damage to an airbase used by Russian forces in Syria after an attack by Isis fighters, the US intelligence company Stratfor has said. |
| The images suggest four helicopters and 20 lorries were destroyed by fire at the T-4 base, also known as Tiyas, which is strategically located in central Syria between war-ravaged Palmyra and Homs. | The images suggest four helicopters and 20 lorries were destroyed by fire at the T-4 base, also known as Tiyas, which is strategically located in central Syria between war-ravaged Palmyra and Homs. |
| Related: Three out of four Syrians believe a political solution can end the war | |
| “The T4 airbase was severely damaged by an Islamic State artillery attack. In particular, four Russian Mi-24 attack helicopters appear to have been destroyed,” Stratfor said on its website. | “The T4 airbase was severely damaged by an Islamic State artillery attack. In particular, four Russian Mi-24 attack helicopters appear to have been destroyed,” Stratfor said on its website. |
| On Tuesday the Russian military denied that any of its helicopters had been damaged. Major General Igor Konashenkov, a defence ministry spokesman, said all Russian helicopters deployed to Syria “are performing their planned missions to destroy terrorists”, and he rejected the damage claim as “propaganda”. | On Tuesday the Russian military denied that any of its helicopters had been damaged. Major General Igor Konashenkov, a defence ministry spokesman, said all Russian helicopters deployed to Syria “are performing their planned missions to destroy terrorists”, and he rejected the damage claim as “propaganda”. |
| Konashenkov said satellite images showing burned shells of helicopters and trucks at the airbase reflected the damage from months of clashes in the area between Syrian government forces and militants. | Konashenkov said satellite images showing burned shells of helicopters and trucks at the airbase reflected the damage from months of clashes in the area between Syrian government forces and militants. |
| However, Stratfor said before and after shots of the devastation on the base were taken on 14 and 17 May. | However, Stratfor said before and after shots of the devastation on the base were taken on 14 and 17 May. |
| The BBC quoted Sim Tack, a Stratfor analyst, as saying: “This was not an accidental explosion.” He said it “would really be a marginal, almost non-existent chance for this to be accidental”. | The BBC quoted Sim Tack, a Stratfor analyst, as saying: “This was not an accidental explosion.” He said it “would really be a marginal, almost non-existent chance for this to be accidental”. |
| Tack said there was evidence of “several different sources of explosions across the airport, and it shows that the Russians took a quite a bad hit”. | Tack said there was evidence of “several different sources of explosions across the airport, and it shows that the Russians took a quite a bad hit”. |
| The Stratfor report said ordnance impact points were visible in the images, and a Syrian MiG-25 fighter jet also appeared to have been damaged. | The Stratfor report said ordnance impact points were visible in the images, and a Syrian MiG-25 fighter jet also appeared to have been damaged. |
| The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights had reported shelling of the T-4 base on 11 May after Isis jihadists briefly took control of part of a route between Palmyra and Homs. | The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights had reported shelling of the T-4 base on 11 May after Isis jihadists briefly took control of part of a route between Palmyra and Homs. |
| “Though the Islamic State failed to cut off the road for any extended amount of time, it did move artillery within range of the base, which it subsequently shelled,” Stratfor said in its analysis. | “Though the Islamic State failed to cut off the road for any extended amount of time, it did move artillery within range of the base, which it subsequently shelled,” Stratfor said in its analysis. |
| The British-based observatory said two days later that continued shelling had caused an explosion at a fuel depot and a fire that destroyed three helicopters. | The British-based observatory said two days later that continued shelling had caused an explosion at a fuel depot and a fire that destroyed three helicopters. |
| On 15 May, the Isis-affiliated Amaq news agency said four Russian combat helicopters and 20 trucks carrying rockets had been destroyed by fire at the T-4 base, but did not provide further details. | |
| Isis seized control of large parts of Syria and Iraq in mid-2014, and the group has claimed deadly attacks in the west and throughout the Middle East. | Isis seized control of large parts of Syria and Iraq in mid-2014, and the group has claimed deadly attacks in the west and throughout the Middle East. |
| Russia’s intervention has significantly strengthened the Syrian government in a five-year-old civil war that has killed more than 270,000 people and driven millions from their homes. | Russia’s intervention has significantly strengthened the Syrian government in a five-year-old civil war that has killed more than 270,000 people and driven millions from their homes. |