Tor short-range surface-to-air missile systems have downed more than 45 unmanned aerial vehicles launched by Syrian militants, according to the chief of the Russian Air Defense Forces Lieutenant General Alexander Leonov.
“Since the start of combat duty, the calculations of the Tor combat vehicles targeted over 45 UAVs crafted by militants”, Leonov said in an interview with the National Defense magazine.
Tor missile systems, alongside with short range Pantisr-S and long rage S-400 systems are the core of the air defense capabilities of the Russian military group deployed in Syria. In 2019 alone, Russian forces intercepted 53 UAVs and 27 rockets fired towards the Hmeimim airbase.
In 2020, the intensity of UAV and rocket attacks on Russian military facilities in western Syria decreased. The main reason is the successful counter-terrorism operations in the southern part of the Idlib de-escalation zones in previous years that allowed for the destruction of infrastructure used by militants for such attacks.
Meanwhile, the militant-held part of Greater Idlib remains in a state of constant chaos even without any large-scale clashes involving the Syrian Army.
On June 15, the head of Jaish al-Suqour, Abu Husain, was assassinated south of the village of Ariha. Another militant commander, Abu Usama, was injured in the incident. Usama is a member of Liwa al-Hansa. Both Jaish al-Suqour and Liwa al-Hansa are a part of the coalition of Turkish-backed militant groups known as the National Front for Liberation. Pro-government sources say that the assassination indicates the ongoing undercover conflict between militant groups directly controlled by Turkey and their more independent counterparts.
Turkey and its proxies seek to expand their influence and gain additional leverage to put pressure on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Turkistan Islamic Party, Horas al-Din and other militarally capable organizations. On the other hand, these groups resisting Turkish attempts to do so are simultaneously continuing to receive financial and military support from Ankara.
On June 16, the Syrian Army sent reinforcements to the contact line with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other militants south of the M4 highway in the Idlib de-escalation zone. Damascus is deeply concerned by the growing Turkish military presence in the area and reasonably expects that radical militants may use it as a cover for attacks on the government-controlled territory.
On June 15, locals from the villages of Jamalu and Merikiz in the Syrian province of al-Hasakah blocked a Turkish military patrol and prevented it from passing the area. Such protests in northeastern Syria are a rare development. Turkish forces do not shy away from using force against Kurdish protesters if they pose even the slightest threat to their interests. The Turkish military regularly claims that Kurdish armed groups, which it considers to be terrorist organizations, prepare attacks on Turkish positions in the area of Operation Peace Spring. By such claims, Ankara justifies the use of force there.
Turkey has the backing of USA to do all these operations & military occupation of Syria & Libya.
It seems that Turkey follows a neo colonial policy of land grab, & getting resources from nearby countries.
Turkey has intervened as the West has destroyed many countries of the region who used to be important regional countries. Turkey found an opportunity but also has the blessing of USA
But there is an issue of geopolitics that needs to be mentioned
We have so many cases….
1) Yugoslavia
We had the western backed disintegration of Yugoslavia & bombing of Serbia by NATO.
Yugoslavia is gone as an important non aligned country of the Balkans.
We have Muslim statelets-protectorates like Kosovo & Bosnia. Serbia is the only country that remains outside of NATO but has been stripped from two provinces (Kosovo & Montenegro)
Turkey & other Muslim powers have increased economic & cultural influence in Kosovo & Bosnia, Albania etc
2) Libya
Libya under Qaddafi used to be a stable independent country with a socialistic & anti-colonial ideology. NATO destroyed Libya. Now it’s run by warlords.
Now Turkey controls half of Libya…
3) Syria
Syria is another country with an anti-colonial Arab socialist / Arab nationalist ideology that narrowly avoided ended up like Libya. Still 1/3 of Syria is still outside government control. Russia helped to avoid the disintegration of Syria.
Turkey (with USA approval) occupies Syrian land in the north.
4) Iraq
Iraq under Saddam Hussein had a large powerful military & an anti colonial Arab nationalist ideology, had an important regional economy & influence.
Iraq was destroyed by USA intervention/occupation. Now it is divided, economically devastated, with ethnic conflicts & violence.
Turkey has conducted operations in North Iraq & made deals to get oil with illegal means
5) Bulgaria
Not sure about Turkeys influence. There was conflict with the Turkish minority in Bulgaria in 1980s
One thing for sure is that Bulgarian military (with Soviet backing) was very powerful up to 1990. Now it doesn’t even have an airforce. Bulgaria is part of NATO & EU….
6) Greece & Cyprus
Both countries have many problems by EU/ IMF austerity programs that weakened their economies. Both are under threat by Turkey who claims large parts of sea areas for oil drilling.
And Turkey controls the Bosphorus but knows better than….