Russia warns Israel over airstrikes near Khmeimim Airbase in Syria

Russia has issued a warning to Israel following an airstrike near its Khmeimim airbase in Syria, according to statements made by Alexander Lavrentyev, Russian President Vladimir Putin's special representative for Syria.

The October strike, which targeted a site close to the Russian military facility, prompted a formal representation from Russian military personnel to their Israeli counterparts, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

"Our military personnel, naturally, made a representation to Israeli representatives regarding the inadmissibility of further actions that could endanger the lives of Russian servicemen stationed there. Therefore, we hope that there will be no repetition of this October event," Lavrentyev emphasized.

Lavrentyev clarified that, based on available information, Israel's strike targeted a warehouse or other premises rather than the Khmeimim airbase itself. He noted that an attack directly on the airbase would have resulted in severe consequences for Israel.

"Israel did indeed carry out one airstrike in the immediate vicinity of Khmeimim. That is, it did not directly strike the airbase, because this, naturally, would have had very negative consequences, including for Israel. They understand this very well," he stated.

The Khmeimim airbase, located in Syria’s Latakia province, has been a strategic site for Russian military operations since Moscow intervened in the Syrian civil war in 2015 to support the government of President Bashar al-Assad. In addition to Khmeimim, Russian forces also operate from a logistics center in Tartus, along the Mediterranean coast, under a 49-year lease agreement.

Israel, which shares borders with Syria and Lebanon, regularly conducts airstrikes in Syria, targeting what it claims are Iranian-backed forces and Hezbollah infrastructure. In October, Israel intensified its operations, including a strike on an airfield in Latakia, raising tensions with Moscow, which has condemned such attacks on Syrian soil.

By Khagan Isayev