Escalation between HTS, government forces in NW Syria intensifies
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) killed and wounded on Sunday around 20 Syrian government soldiers in Zawiya Mountain in the south of Idlib, northwest Syria.
A military source within the Syrian opposition told North Press that the HTS deterred three attempts of advancement by the government forces to regain posts they lost days ago in the village of al-Malaja in the south of Idlib.
The source added that the HTS killed and injured 15 members of the government forces. They also targeted with heavy artillery and missiles the Eighth Division in the village of Jbala in the south of Idlib, killing and wounding about five soldiers. Meanwhile, five HTS militants were killed during clashes.
In a related context, Russian warplanes renewed airstrikes on the villages of Fatterah, Kafr Oweid, Sfuhen, Sarjah, outskirts of Kafr Latah, and the outskirts of the city of Ariha in the south of Idlib without reporting any human casualties, according to the source.
The Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria, affiliated with the Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday that the militants of “the Turkistan Islamic Party attempted to penetrate the front defense line of the Syrian Army in Idlib. The attack was deterred and around 18 militants were killed.”
A military source within the Syrian opposition told North Press that HTS militants detonated on Aug. 26 military posts of the government forces in the village of al-Malaja in Zawiya Mountain in the south of Idlib, after reportedly digging a tunnel under those posts.
Although the de-escalation zone in northwest Syria is subject to a Russian-Turkish ceasefire agreement signed in March 2020, the area witnesses frequent mutual bombardment despite the entry of the ceasefire into force.
In March 2020, Russia and Turkey reached an agreement in Moscow that stipulated a ceasefire, the establishment of a safe corridor, and the conduct of joint patrols on the M4/Aleppo-Latakia Highway.