Russia claims it repulsed a drone attack on Syria Khmeimim airbase
Anti-aircraft defenses at the Russia’s Khmeimim airbase in Syria destroyed unknown small-sized air targets that were "far from the airfield", RIA Novosti reported, citing an airbase spokesperson.
According to the airbase representative, the airborne threats were discovered on April 24 around twilight. "All of the targets were destroyed by the antiaircraft fire means of the Russian airbase," he said. No one was hurt on the base; the facility also suffered no material damage, and has returned “to normal operations.”
Militants in Syria use drones capable of operating at a distance of more than 100 km and which often carry ammunition, Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu said in early April. According to Shoygu, Russian troops have destroyed seventeen such vehicles since the beginning of the year.
The airbase in Khmeimim has previously been attacked by drones. RBC news agency reported, citing its sources, that one of these attacks took place overnight from December 31, 2017 through January 1, 2018. Two people were killed during that attack. The drones damaged four planes and two helicopters, RBC's source said. The Ministry of Defense denied this information and said that the base was fired on by mortars.
The second attack took place on overnight from January 5 through January 6, when militants attacked Khmeimim with thirteen drones. As reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense, seven of them were destroyed by Pantsir-class missile and gun systems.