A Russian Su-24 strike aircraft in the sky over the Khmeimim airbase in Syria. Photo: Dmitriy Vinogradov / RIA Novosti
On October 6, a wave of Russian airstrikes hit the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib, which is controlled by al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and several other terrorist groups.
The airstrikes hit positions of HTS and its allies in the outskirts of the town of Qarqor in the northwestern countryside of Hama as well as near the towns of Jiftlak Haj Hammoud, Bidama and al-Zaina in the western countryside of Idlib. Casualties and material losses were reported after the airstrikes.
HTS and its allies were blamed for a drone attack that targeted the annual graduation ceremony at the Syrian Military Academy near the central city of Homs a day earlier. The attack claimed the lives of 89 civilians and service members and left more than 277 other wounded.
Following the attack Syrian Arab Army (SAA) launched several waves of artillery strikes against positions of HTS and its allies in different parts of Greater Idlib.
The last wave of airstrikes on the region was likely also carried out by the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) in response to the attack.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. However, current evidence indicates that HTS or one of its allies was responsible.
The SAA and VKS will likely launch more strikes against Greater Idlib in coming days. Several unconfirmed reports are also talking about a possible ground operation in the region. However, this could lead to a confrontation with Turkey who maintains a large force there.
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