Syria: Russian base severely damaged in ISIS attack

Satellite imagery appears to show extensive damage to an air base in Syria used by Russian forces following an attack by terrorists from the Islamic State (ISIS) group, US intelligence company Stratfor said Tuesday.

The claim was immediately denied by Russia's defense ministry which said that the damage had been there for months and was due to fighting between Syrian government forces and "militants from terror groups."

Stratfor released satellite images dated from May 14 and May 17, implying that the damage to the T-4 base, also known as Tiyas, was caused in that time.

The images suggest four helicopters and 20 trucks were destroyed by fire inside the base, which strategically located in central Syria between war-ravaged Palmyra and Homs.

"The T4 air base was severely damaged by an Islamic State artillery attack. In particular, four Russian Mi-24 attack helicopters appear to have been destroyed," Stratfor said on their website.

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