Rebels’ drone capability ‘worrying’ Syria

The Russian military says it has downed dozens of drones and rockets launched by militants this year targeting Russia’s air base in Syria.

Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said that so far in 2019, the military had shot down 58 drones and 27 rockets targeting the Hemeimeem air base in Syria’s Mediterranean province of Latakia.

Russia has waged a military campaign in Syria since September 2015, allowing Bashar alAssad’s government to reclaim control over most of the country amid a devastating civil war.

Konashenkov said the militants had continuously improved their drones, which had a range of up to 250km and could reach altitudes of up to 4km.

He said that while the drones might look primitive, they performed well and were difficult to spot. ‘‘It’s quite worrying that the terrorists have obtained the navigation and control technologies that only a few countries possess.’’

The Russian air base is protected by a variety of shortand medium-range air defence systems.