First group of six Sukhoi-24 bombers back to Russia from Syria - Defense Ministry

MOSCOW, January 12. /TASS/. The first six Sukhoi-24 bombers have already been relocated from the Hmeymim base in Syria to Russia and more aircraft will be back home soon, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told the media on Thursday. "The first group of six Sukhoi-24 has been relocated from the Hmeymim base to Russia. The withdrawal of other aircraft and also flight and technical personnel is due in the near future," he said. The four Sukhoi-25 fighter-bombers that were reported to have arrived at Hmeymim by the US TV network FoxNews were dispatched there on the rotation principle, Konashenkov said. "In accordance with the schedule of routine rotation of aircraft four Sukhoi-25 fighter-bombers, equipped with advanced navigation and targeting systems, arrived in Syria several days ago. Attempts by some western media to neglect some facts only to focus on others to make a fuss about an alleged ‘buildup of Russian presence in Syria’ are nothing but a primitive propaganda canard," Konashenkov said. He also recalled that the Northern Fleet’s aircraft carrier-led task force has been on its way back to its Severomorsk base since January 6. The Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier has more than 40 aircraft on board. Russia started to reduce its military presence in Syria since a truce agreement took effect on December 30. Moscow and Ankara pledged to act as its safeguards. The ceasefire agreement was concluded by the Syrian authorities and several armed opposition groups. It does not apply to the terrorist groups Islamic State and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra. Both are outlawed in Russia Read more