DAMASCUS – Two Russian servicemen were killed in an attack at Syria’sHmeimim air base, the country’s defence ministry said on Thursday, bringingthe total number of officially reported losses to 44.
“As darkness fell, the Hmeimim air base was subjected to sudden mortarshelling from a mobile group of militants. As a result of the shelling, twoservicemen were killed,” the defence ministry said in a statement toRussian agencies.
Meanwhile, Russian daily Kommersant reported at least seven Russian planeswere also destroyed by rebel shelling on Dec. 31.
At least four Su-24 bombers, two Su-35S fighters and an An-72 transportplane, as well as an ammunition depot, were destroyed by the shelling,Kommersant said on its website, citing two “military-diplomatic” sources,but the ministry said the report was “fake”.
The news comes a day after the ministry announced a Russian helicoptercrash in Syria that killed two pilots following a technical fault, also onDecember 31.
With four fatalities this is one of the deadliest single days for theRussian army in Syria since it entered the conflict and brings the totalnumber of officially reported losses to 44.
Security around the Hmeimim base was being stepped up after the mortarattack, the defence ministry said.
“The Russian air force in Syria is combat-ready and continues to fulfillall intended tasks,” the statement added.
Last month, Russia began establishing a permanent presence at Hmeymim and anaval base at Tartous although President Vladimir Putin has ordered a“significant” withdrawal of his military from Syrialink>,declaring their work largely done.