For the first time, Russian ground troops participated in fighting against Syrian opposition forces in the area between the countryside of Lattakia and Idleb, capturing a strategic hill without sustaining any injuries or losses, Syrian military sources revealed.
The sources said the Russian military operation in Syria required the involvement of an infantry battalion, while Russian artillery and warplanes bombed the area before the infantry forces advance and captured the area.
According to the sources, "the Kremlin has made a decision to interfere strongly in Syria, a real training arena, to show the Russian strength and weaponry, as [Russian] soldiers have not participated in a real battle for many years.”
The sources explained that the Assad regime provided logistical support to Russian forces for the first time in Syria, without the participation of the Syrian army or its allies. It appears Russia wanted to test the combat readiness of its infantry troops, with sources adding, "the battle lasted for several hours, and ended with the capture of the strategic hill."
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
