Ahrar al-Sham and Harakat al-Bayan yesterday announced they managed to set off a car bomb outside a meeting of top Russian officers at a military base in rural Latakia on February 21. On the same day, February 21, reports emerged of a mysterious blast in the area.
A joint statement issued by both groups said that a car bomb outside the meeting “caused the death and injury” of dozens of Russian officers.
“Following a monitoring, scouting and preparation mission that lasted for several weeks, Ahrar al-Sham and Harakat al-Bayan were able to deliver the car bomb to the military base,” the statement added.
“After observing a meeting of top Russian generals inside the area… the car bomb was detonated during the meeting.”
Ahrar al-Sham and Harakat al-Bayan also published a video purporting to show the moment of the attack outside the meeting in the regime’s coastal bastion.
Both groups said the attack occurred in the Snouber-Jablah area at 1:10 p.m. Sunday, February 21st, but the announcement of the operation “was delayed until the safe return of the brothers who carried out the operation.”
Ahrar al-Sham and Harakat al-Bayan claimed that a large number of ambulances, fire engines and Russian helicopters had rushed to the site of blast to transfer the injured to hospitals in Jablah and Latakia.
Meanwhile, clashes continue to rage between rebel fighters and regime forces, backed by close Russian air cover, in Al-Akrad Mount in rural Latakia. Rebel fighters yesterday said they recaptured the villages of Ard al-Watta and Mazghala after violent clashes with regime forces in the area. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Agencies)
