Jihadist opposition groups in Syria claimed to have set off a car bomb at a Russian military base outside Latakia, killing several Russian generals, the Jerusalem Post reported Wednesday.
A spokesperson for the Ahrar al-Sham opposition group said that its fighters, along with members of Bayan movement and jihadists inside the Russian base, detonated the car bomb after spotting a gathering of senior Russian officers at the base, the report said.
The spokesperson claimed “dozens of generals” were killed and injured in the attack, the Jerusalem Post reported.
The attack took place a few days ago, but the announcement was delayed until Wednesday to allow the bombers time to retreat to opposition-controlled territories, the report said.
The Kremlin has not commented on the report.
The announcement came three days before a Russian- and U.S.-brokered cease-fire is scheduled to begin between the forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad and his political opponents.
The cease-fire excludes the Islamic State, al-Qaeda affiliate al-Nusra and other groups designated as “terrorist” by the United Nations.
The Islamic State is a terrorist organization banned in Russia.
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