Sovereignty Support Movement Sovereignty for West Asia
Nov 11, 2015, Sputnik News
About 50 journalists from 12 countries recently visited the airbase in the framework of a press tour in order to learn more about its work.
Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation
Today a group of journalists has arrived at the #Hmeymim airbase in the course of a press-tour organized by the Russian Defence Ministry. The journalists come from 12 countries of America, Europe and AsiaAlmost 50 media representatives will familiarize themselves not only with combat operations conducted by the pilots of the Russian Aerospace Forces, but also with preparation for missions, organization of everyday life, combat aircraft maintenance, and combat sorties.
The Russian Defence Ministry presented to the foreign journalists the objective monitoring data received from the unmanned aerial vehicles concerning the results of combat operations carried out by the Russian aviation against militants’ infrastructure on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic. #SYRIA
According to Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov, journalists were “surprised by the level of professionalism of the pilots and the infrastructure of the base.”The Hmeymim airbase is located in the Latakia province of Syria, where Russian forces taking part in the military operation against the ISIL are currently stationed.
“It was not the first group of foreign journalists we have brought to the Hmeymim airbase. Today, we invited 12 countries. These are the countries of America, Europe and Asia,” Konashenkov told reporters.
According to the official, the tour is aimed at making visitors familiar with the work of the base. During the visit, journalists could watch how pilots were preparing for their missions and how the base’s military equipment is being maintained and used in practice.
Konashenkov said the visitors were impressed by the tour.
“Our colleagues from abroad are amazed about the professionalism of our pilots and the infrastructure that we have here,” the official said.
On September 30, Russia launched an air campaign in Syria at the request of President Bashar Assad targeting terrorist positions with precision airstrikes.
Over the last two days, Russian military aircraft have carried out 85 airstrikes, hitting 277 terrorist targets in six Syrian provinces.
