Pro-Turkish mercenaries in Syria have received Turkish drones, Russia claims

The situation in Syria remains tense, despite the “fraudulent” lull in recent weeks over the military action in Nagorno-Karabakh. However, it is clear that the Syrian conflict will remain unresolved for many years, and hostilities there have not stopped, although in recent weeks they have been reduced in intensity.

According to information provided by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, a series of attacks and terrorist attacks by pro-Turkish mercenaries in the region of northern Syria are imminent. Russian intelligence has reported that the soldiers in question have already been armed with Turkish aircraft, including the popular Bayraktr TB 2, as well as the kamikaze drones Kangal. According to Russian media, we are talking about dozens of kamikaze drones and at least two Bayraktar TB 2 drones, which in the area are called the “killer” of the Russian mobile anti-aircraft system Pantsir S1.

According to Russian Rear Admiral Alexander Grinkevich, who is deputy deputy head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Warring Parties in Syria, he has received information about planned terrorist attacks and attacks in the Idlib region, especially in settlements with a high concentration of civilians. population that strikes will aim to de-escalate tensions more than at present. These include both airstrikes by unmanned aerial vehicles and planned artillery attacks.

According to the rear admiral, pro-Turkish troops and jihadist units will concentrate their strikes near the village of Nahlaya, which is located in northern Syria. The Rear Admiral confirmed that they have a video in which the jihadists promise to level the settlement, which is a kind of confirmation of the information from the Russian military counterintelligence in the area.

Similar information about the transfer of Turkish unmanned aerial vehicles into the hands of pro-Turkish troops and jihadist units was available earlier in the year, but this information remained unconfirmed, at least from official sources or the Turkish Ministry of Defense.

Military experts say that if the news turns out to be true this time, pro-Turkish troops and jihadist units could try another attack on Russia’s Khmeimim air base, but reiterate that this would be a big mistake and the attacking country would quickly lose. the military equipment at its disposal. Russia guards the base very closely, repeatedly using the S-300 and S-400 systems against past attacks, and the air force located in the area within 24 hours always responds to the attacks, with the consequences so far great for the pro-Turkish and jihadist detachments.

Field analysts in Syria say the alleged airstrikes with Turkish drones could be a response to Russian airstrikes until a week or two ago, which destroyed several mercenary training camps prepared for the Nagorno-Karabakh war.

War in Syria

In February, Turkey lost at least 62 troops killed in Syria, nearly 100 soldiers were wounded, dozens of Turkish armored vehicles were destroyed and more than ten drones, including drone, were shot down. Washington has repeatedly accused Moscow of involvement in the deaths of Turkish soldiers, Russia rejects these allegations.

In early March, the presidents of Russia and Turkey, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, concluded an agreement according to which a ceasefire came into force in the Idlib de-escalation zone. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad later said that if the US and Turkish military did not leave the country, Damascus would be able to use force.

The reason for the Russian-Turkish negotiations was a sharp aggravation of the situation in Idlib, where in January a large-scale offensive by the Syrian army against the positions of the armed opposition and terrorists began.

Government forces recaptured nearly half of the Idlib de-escalation zone and left behind a number of Turkish observation posts. After that, Ankara sharply increased its military contingent in the region and launched the operation “Spring Shield” to push the Syrian troops. Turkey is also supported by militants loyal to it.

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