Global Geopolitical Series: Massive drone attack on Russian base in Syria shows war not over

Late last year, both Russia and the United States announced that ISIS has been defeated in Syria and both countries agreed to move to the next phase, which is to establish safe zones in Syria to reduce the level of violence in the country and create an environment where displaced Syrians can return to their homes safely. Last month, the Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria. However, a recent massive drone attack on Russian main military base in Syria suggests that the war is far from being over.

According to Russian ministry of defense, the Russian military has repelled a massive drone attack on its main airbase in Syria, which was reportedly carried out by militants. The militants launched their assault during the night on Saturday on Russian Kheimim Airbase in the Syrian Latakia province using 10 unmanned combat aerial vehicles, while three more attempted a strike against the Russian maritime logistics base located in the city of Tartus. According to Russian defense ministry, all of the drones were detected by anti-aircraft defense systems well in advance and seven of them were then successfully shot down by the Russian Panzer-S air-defense system. The Russian radio electronic warfare specialists also managed to override the operating systems of six more drones, and eventually gained control over the drones. Three of them were destroyed when they hit the ground, while another three were landed intact outside the base controlled by Russian forces. No casualties were reported.

Moscow said that it was the first time that terrorists massively used unmanned combat aerial vehicles of an aircraft type that were launched from a distance of more than 50 kilometers, and operated using GPS satellite navigation coordinates. According to reports, Russian specialists are examined the seized unmanned aircrafts and the recovered data has already allowed the specialists to pinpoint the exact location from which the drones were launched. The examination also showed that advanced technologies were used in the drones’ construction.

However, this wasn’t the first attack on Russian Kheimim base. On December 31st, the base was subjected to mortar shelling, an attack that claimed the lives of two military personnel. In 2017, Russia and Syria finalized an agreement regulating the presence of Russian troops in Syria. Khmeimim Airbase, located near Latakia, and the naval site in the port city of Tartus have both been handed over, lease-free, to Russia for 49 years, and with an option of automatic extension unless either country chooses to terminate the deal.

In response to Russia’s comments that the terrorists might have been aided by a technologically advanced state, the United States deflected any criticism with Pentagon spokesman Maj. Adrian Rankin-Galloway saying that those devices and technologies can easily be obtained in the open market. Russia has long been accused the United States of supplying weapons to moderate Syrian rebels, which eventually falls into the hands of the terrorists.