Russia Denies Losing Helicopters at Syrian Base
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Russian military has denied a claim by Daesh (ISIL) group that it has destroyed several Russian helicopter gunships and other equipment at a base in Syria.
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, said on Wednesday that all Russian helicopters deployed to Syria "are performing their planned missions to destroy terrorists."
He rejected the Daesh claim of destroying four Russian helicopters and 20 trucks at the Diyas air base near the ancient town of Palmyra as "propaganda," AP reported.
Konashenkov said in a statement that satellite images showing burned shells of helicopters and trucks at the Diyas air base reflect the damage from months of clashes in the area between Syrian government forces and militants. The images were released Tuesday by the US global intelligence think tank Stratfor.
