BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian army said on Saturday its air defenses foiled a drone attack by “terrorist” groups on a main military base in northwestern Syria where a Russian-brokered ceasefire has stopped months of fighting.

The three drones, which were carrying explosives, were shot down on Friday and destroyed without causing any losses, the army said in a statement reported on Syrian state media.

The Idlib region saw a lull in air raids that have been pounding rebel-held territory after Russia’s defense ministry announced on Aug. 30 that Syrian forces would unilaterally cease fire in an “de-escalation zone” brokered two year ago.

The Russian defense ministry also urged insurgent factions to join the truce.

Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by Alexander Smith