Watch: Russian Commandos Take Over Sprawling Base in Syria Moments After US Abandoned It
November 17, 2019 in News, Video by RBN Staff
source: russia-insider.com
Even as American forces are controversially “securing” select oil fields in the Deir Ezzor region of eastern Syria, they are simultaneously continuing withdrawal from northern Syria near border areas in keeping with Trump’s prior ordered draw down amid the Turkish military operation against Kurdish militias. And that means Russia is continuing to move into locations the US has abandoned.
“We entered the base and took the inner and external perimeter under control,” a senior Russian military police inspector said after on Friday Russian combat helicopters were filmed landing at a sprawling air base in northern Syria, newly vacated by US forces.
“Now sappers are looking and going through every building to make sure there aren’t some kind of explosive substances left behind or some kind of surprises here for us,” he said. Russian state media boasted that the major base is now “under new management”.
Ali Özkök@Ozkok_ARussia deployed Pantsir air defense systems.
It is just deployed to cover the helicopter base not to stop Turkish air force:
The system could use 57E6M-E surface-to-air missile with a ceiling from 15 to 18 km, engagement range from 20 to 30 km.
Ali Özkök@Ozkok_AThe Russian military police took an airfield in northern Syria, where the American base used to be located.
Russian Defense Ministry (MoD) video showed elite forces hastily securing Sirrin Air Base in the northern Aleppo area, among the largest military installations previously occupied by American forces in Syria.
Though flying the Russian flag as they moved in, the MoD indicated Sirrin is now controlled by Syrian government forces, also to be used as a joint distribution center for humanitarian aid.
