Airstrikes in Syria after Russian patrol hit by massive bomb

Russia launched airstrikes in northern Syria in the wake of a bombing that  targeted a Russian military patrol, locals said. The airstrikes occurred in Latakia province in northwestern Syria. Russia has been conducting joint patrols with Turkey along the M4 highway in Syria after a ceasefire earlier this year. Russia and Turkey back opposite sides in Syria, but tend to work together.

Russia says it is backing the Syrian regime’s battle against “terrorists.” Russia has worked to limit humanitarian aid to opposition-controlled areas in Syria.

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Pro-government social media users following Syria claimed the explosion happened in an area controlled by “jihadists” linked to Hurras al-Din, which is itself linked to Al-Qaeda. ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was found in a Hurras al-Din area last October and the US has targeted the group in the past. Video shows what looks like a massive explosion near the  Russian patrol. Syrians reported that three Russians were wounded. The numbers could increase if more details are revealed.

The explosion is the largest so far to target a Russian patrol. Russia has said its base in Khmeimim in Syria has been attacked by drones recently and in the past, allegedly flown by Syrian rebel and extremist groups in Idlib. The attack on the patrol convoy is part of rising tensions in Syria with similar patrols carried out by US forces in eastern Syria. They have been increasingly harassed by pro-Syrian regime activists.

The Syrian regime and Russia would like an excuse to retaliate in Idlib and continue the offensive they launched  earlier this year in January and February. That offensive stopped  after hundreds of thousands of people fled towards Turkey and Turkey flooded Idlib with tanks and troops. Turkish troops were killed in Syrian regime shelling and Turkey retaliated with drone airstrikes. A ceasefire was agreed between Turkey and Russia on March 5. However, groups  such as Hurras al-Din or Hayat Tahrir al-Sham have continued to be outside the ceasefire and Russia reserves the right to  strike them.

The explosion has major ramifications for Russia’s joint patrols. Moscow could ignore it and prefer to keep injuries quiet. But it could also play it up and accuse Turkey of not keeping extremist groups in check and use it as an excuse to target groups throughout Idlib.