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Syria war: Photos 'reveal' Russia jet damage at Hmeimim base | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A Russian military journalist has published photos of Russian warplanes which are believed to have been damaged by rebel shelling in Syria. | A Russian military journalist has published photos of Russian warplanes which are believed to have been damaged by rebel shelling in Syria. |
Roman Saponkov posted them on social media after reports of the attack. | Roman Saponkov posted them on social media after reports of the attack. |
Russia's defence ministry acknowledged a 31 December rebel mortar attack on Hmeimim airbase but denied any jets had been disabled. | |
It also confirmed two servicemen's deaths. Russia's Kommersant newspaper said seven jets had been destroyed. | |
Kommersant quoted two unnamed "military-diplomatic sources" on the previously unreported incident - apparently the heaviest attack yet on the airbase near Latakia, in north-western Syria. | Kommersant quoted two unnamed "military-diplomatic sources" on the previously unreported incident - apparently the heaviest attack yet on the airbase near Latakia, in north-western Syria. |
The attackers were described as "Islamist extremists". | The attackers were described as "Islamist extremists". |
According to Kommersant, in the attack "at least seven planes were destroyed: four frontline Su-24 bombers, two Su-35S multi-role fighters and an An-72 transport plane". | According to Kommersant, in the attack "at least seven planes were destroyed: four frontline Su-24 bombers, two Su-35S multi-role fighters and an An-72 transport plane". |
Posting on the social media site vKontakte, Saponkov listed the losses as: six Su-24s; one Su-35S; one An-72; one An-30 spy plane; and one Mi-8 helicopter. | Posting on the social media site vKontakte, Saponkov listed the losses as: six Su-24s; one Su-35S; one An-72; one An-30 spy plane; and one Mi-8 helicopter. |
Only one Su-24 and the Su-35S had later been put back into service, he added. | Only one Su-24 and the Su-35S had later been put back into service, he added. |
Speaking to the BBC, he said he had got the photos from a reliable anonymous source. | Speaking to the BBC, he said he had got the photos from a reliable anonymous source. |
Saponkov pointed out that the number 29 on a jet's damaged tail fin also appeared on Russian state TV video of jets at Hmeimim in December. | Saponkov pointed out that the number 29 on a jet's damaged tail fin also appeared on Russian state TV video of jets at Hmeimim in December. |
Read more on the Syria conflict: | Read more on the Syria conflict: |
Hmeimim is Russia's main base for air strikes on rebel groups in Syria - strikes that have enabled President Bashar al-Assad's forces to recover much lost ground. | Hmeimim is Russia's main base for air strikes on rebel groups in Syria - strikes that have enabled President Bashar al-Assad's forces to recover much lost ground. |
Russian air strikes are said to have killed many civilians though Moscow insists that it only targets rebel "terrorist" fighters. | Russian air strikes are said to have killed many civilians though Moscow insists that it only targets rebel "terrorist" fighters. |
The Russian military says it has now beefed up security at Hmeimim. The base already has long-range anti-aircraft missiles but rebels must have got close to the perimeter to target planes with mortars. | The Russian military says it has now beefed up security at Hmeimim. The base already has long-range anti-aircraft missiles but rebels must have got close to the perimeter to target planes with mortars. |
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