Syrian forces on Monday intercepted and shot down three weaponized drones dispatched by a rebel group in the northwestern provinces of Idlib and Hama, the state news agency SANA reported.
The unmanned aerial vehicles, belonging to the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, were reportedly on a mission to target government-controlled towns situated in the rural areas of Hama and Idlib, said the report, citing the Defense Ministry.
The incident was also reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor, which independently verified the downing of the three drones.
The observatory added that Russian airstrikes conducted in the Idlib region on Monday killed eight HTS militants.
HTS, a former al-Qaida affiliate, has established control over a large swathe of Idlib.