Russia says it eliminated Syria rebels who attacked its base
The Russian military said Friday it has eliminated a group of rebels that had attacked Russia's air base in Syria.
The Russian Defense Ministry said it tracked down the rebels with drones and other intelligence assets and struck them with artillery while they were getting into a minibus in the northwestern province of Idlib.
It said in a statement that the Russian military also destroyed a rebel facility for assembling drones in Idlib.
The mortar shelling of the Hemeimeem air base killed two Russian servicemen on New Year's eve, according to the Defense Ministry. It said that warplanes weren't hit, but the Russian business daily Kommersant reported that seven aircraft were damaged beyond repair.
