Russia shoot down drone flying near Syrian military base

Russia’s military claims it downed the unidentified drone (UAV) near its Khmeimim airbase in city of Latakia in north-west Syria.

Anti-aircraft guns destroyed the UAV as it approached the base, Russia’s strategic centre of operations against ISIS, under cover of darkness.

The base, operated by Russia since mid-2015, is operating normally and there were no “casualties nor physical damage”, Russia’s MoD said.

Footage purportedly showing Russia shooting down the drone, whose owner is not known, has been posted to social media.

“On May 21, with the onset of the dark time, the air-space control of the Russian airbase Khmeimim, far from the airfield, detected a small-sized air target of unknown identity (UAV),” a spokesman for the ministry said.

Explosions apparently caused by Russian defences were reported by UK-based war monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

No group or country has claimed responsibility for the drone.

The airport, also known as also Hmeimim Air Base, was attacked by a small UAV that was shot down by anti-aircraft missiles on April 24.

Source: Syria news: Russia shoot down drone flying near Syrian military base | Daily Star