Russia says drone attacks against its Syria bases came from ‘de-escalation’ zone

(SouthFront) – The Russian Defense Ministry revealed via its newspaper, Red Star, that armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) attacking Russian military facilities in Syrian Hmeymim and Tartus overnight into January 6 were launched from the Idlib de-escalation zone. MORE ABOUT ATTACK

According to the ministry, the UAVs were launched from “Muazzara settlement located in the southwestern part of Idlib de-escalation zone controlled by the armed forces of the so-called moderate opposition.”

The ministry has sent letters to Turkey’s Chief of the General Staff Hulusi Akar and intelligence chief Hakan Fidan saying that “it is necessary for Ankara to meet assumed obligations to ensure ceasefire by controlled armed forces and intensify efforts to put observation points in the de-escalation zone in Idlib for preventing such UAV attacks on any targets.”

Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu accused the SAA of “hitting the moderate opposition with the excuse they are fighting Nusra. [Hayat Tahrir al-Sham]” Cavusoglu said the SAA’s actions undermined diplomatic efforts for a negotiated solution to the conflict.

It is not clear what kind of so-called moderate opposition Cavusoglu had found in the Abu al-Duhur area controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.