Russian military base in Syria’s Khmeimim attacked by unknown assailants, reports of possible casualties

Russia’s Khmeimim air base in Syria has reportedly come under attack. According to Russian media, Telegram channels, and pro-war bloggers, multiple unidentified militants attempted to breach the perimeter of the base but were repelled at its security checkpoints.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported “security tension around the Russian air base of Khmeimim following an armed attack by a group believed to be an auxiliary group to the ministries of defence and interior.” This refers to factions of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which was formerly designated as a jihadist group. HTS fighters are now believed to be aligned with the government in Damascus following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

SOHR also cited reports of a drone being shot down in the area and noted that heavy gunfire and sirens were heard near the base’s runway early in the morning. In response, security forces at the base were put “on high alert, where they established checkpoints and proceeded with thoroughly inspection, amid concerns about expected escalation.”

Previously, on April 24, SOHR reported that Russian anti-aircraft systems had shot down two drones over Jableh, prompting Russian forces in Syria to be placed on high alert. This coincided with activity from Syrian air defenses near Qarfis in Latakia province, where units now under Syria’s new Ministry of Defense are based.

Military analysts in Syria have verified the authenticity of videos circulating online, which reportedly show gunfire near a checkpoint southwest of the Khmeimim airfield.