BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:40 P.M.) The Russian Ministry of Defense denied that their Su-57 stealth fighters have returned to Syria, despite alleged satellite photos posted by social media users of the warplane at the Hmeimim Airbase.

Citing the Russian Ministry of Defense, TV Zvedza reported that these reports are untrue and that the pictures posted are from an old Google Maps screentshot from 2018.

“The photos of Russia’s fifth generation fighter jet at the Hmeimim air base were made back in 2018 during its tests in real combat conditions, and the Russian Defense Ministry officially reported about this,” the TASS News Agency reported.

The Russian Air Force currently has several fighter jets deployed at the Hmeimim Airbase as they have maintained a strong combat force to deter any potential attacks on their base.