Satellite imagery appears to show extensive damage to an air base in Syria used by Russian forces following an attack by fighters from the Islamic State group, US intelligence company Stratfor said Tuesday, AFP reported.
The images suggest four helicopters and 20 lorries were destroyed by fire inside the T-4 base, which is also known as Tiyas and is strategically located in central Syria between war-ravaged Palmyra and Homs.
"The T4 air base was severely damaged by an Islamic State artillery attack. In particular, four Russian Mi-24 attack helicopters appear to have been destroyed," Stratfor said on their website.
The Russian Defense Ministry has denied reports that Russian helicopters were attacked at an air base in Syria’s Homs province.
“All Russian combat helicopters currently stationed in the Syrian Arab Republic, are performing routine tasks destroying terrorists. There have been no losses among the personnel of the Russian air base there,” Defense Ministry spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov said in an official statement on Tuesday.
Sat images verify that T4 air base was severely damaged by an Islamic State artillery attack https://t.co/M3MktlbMhS pic.twitter.com/yMHJ91Dtd7
— Stratfor (@Stratfor) May 24, 2016
