The Syrian army on Tuesday intercepted nine drones launched by rebel groups in rural areas across Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama provinces in northern Syria, the Syrian Ministry of Defense said.
The ministry said in a statement that it is of strategic importance to shoot down the drones, which posed potential threats to civilian populations and military installations.
The rebels in northern Syria, particularly in the northwestern province of Idlib, have intensified drone attacks against government-controlled areas in recent months.
The deadliest one took place in early October when a drone attack killed over 80 military personnel and civilians during a graduation ceremony at a military academy in the Homs province.