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.