MOSCOW, May 25 (UPI) -- Russia has denied reports the Islamic State destroyed four of its Mi-24 "Hind" helicopters and several supply trucks stationed in Tiyas, Syria.
Stratfor, a private intelligence and analysis company, previously reported that the Islamic State destroyed Russian helicopters and supply trucks during a recent attack. Other reports indicate a fire may have started at the airbase and caused damage.
The Islamic State initially claimed responsibility for the alleged attack it said took place on May 14. Stratfor followed up the claims by using satellite imagery, but Russia's Ministry of Defense said the images are months old, adding that they show the result of fighting between the Syrian regime under President Bashar al-Assad and "terrorist militants contesting this airfield."
"All Russian combat helicopters currently stationed in the Syrian Arab Republic, are performing routine tasks destroying terrorists," Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement on Tuesday. "There have been no losses among the personnel of the Russian air base there."
Konashenkov said the "rumors about the destruction" of Russian military equipment were started by "IS agitators, who unsuccessfully tried to sell this alleged news" previously.
Russia became militarily involved in the Syrian civil war in September by launching airstrikes on rebel positions.
Sat images verify that T4 air base was severely damaged by an Islamic State artillery attack https://t.co/M3MktlbMhS pic.twitter.com/yMHJ91Dtd7
— Stratfor (@Stratfor) May 24, 2016
