Russian general speaks of “operation”
Putin’s jets bomb Syria – probably hundreds dead
November 30, 2024 – 9:28 p.mReading time: 1 min.
Syrian rebels advance against Assad’s regime. Now the Russian Air Force is also getting involved – to support the dictator.
Russian warplanes took off on several missions against rebel units in Syria on Saturday. Around 300 fighters were killed, said Oleg Ignasyuk, deputy head of the Russian mission in Syria. Rebel command posts, artillery positions and camps were attacked. “The operation to counter extremist aggression will continue,” the state agency Tass quoted him as saying. His statements could not be independently verified. Ignasyuk also did not provide any information about the locations where the fighter jets were deployed.
An alliance of insurgents led by the Islamist organization Haiat Tahrir al-Sham made surprising territorial gains in an offensive in northwestern Syria this week. The rebels have also taken control of almost the entire city of Aleppo.
Russia provided the Syrian government with massive military support during the civil war in 2015 and, with its superior air force, helped President Bashar al-Assad re-establish his faltering position of power. Since then, Moscow has stationed a number of fighter bombers and helicopters at Hmeimim airport, as well as a troop contingent of unknown strength in the port city of Tartus.
