Russia’s Hmeymim airbase in Syria currently hosts about 30 warplanes and helicopters but will be able to accommodate more aircraft after the reconstruction.
The second runway is being reconstructed, which will increase its capabilities. New hangars have been built, in which aircraft are kept.
The new improved structures will protect the fleet against possible attacks of combat drones, as well as from rain and direct sunlight.
According to the officer, there are currently about 30 aircraft at the airbase, including Su-35S fighter jets, Su-34 fighter-bombers and Su-24 attack aircraft, as well as Mi-35 attack helicopters and Mi-8AMTSh assault transport helicopters.
For months, foreign backed mercenaries have continued their attempts to attack Russian facilities from the Idlib de-escalation zone but Russian multiple layer of air defense systems repelled the attacks.
Russia, Turkey and Iran are the guarantors of the ceasefire in the Idlib de-escalation zone, as well as three other de-escalation zones across the country.
The Idlib province is the last major stronghold of Zionist terrorists and mercenaries in Syria. In September 2018, ceasefire guarantors Russia and Turkey agreed to set up in Idlib a 9-12 mile deep demilitarized zone, which would be cleared of heavy weapons and militants.
However, despite progress in the withdrawal of weapons and fighters from the area, remaining militants regularly commit ceasefire violations by shelling nearby provinces.
Sputnik / ABC Flash Point News 2019.
