Syrian rebel shelling destroys at least 7 Russian planes – report

At least four Su-24 bombers, two Su-35S fighters and an An-72 transport plane, as well as an ammunition depot, were destroyed on Dec. 31, when “radical Islamists” shelled the Khmeimim air base, Kommersant reports, citing two “military-diplomatic” sources. If confirmed, this would mark Russia’s single biggest loss of military hardware since it began conducting massive airstrikes in Syria in autumn 2015. More than 10 servicemen were wounded in the attack, which came after President Putin visited the base and told the air force detachment deployed there: “You are coming back home with victory.”