HTS kills 18 soldiers of government forces in Syria’s Latakia
LATAKIA, Syria (North Press) – Militants of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) attacked posts of the Syrian government forces in Latakia Governorate on Syria’s coast killing 18 soldiers.
An exclusive source from the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions told North Press that the HTS attacked posts of the government forces in Turkmen Mountain area in the north of Latakia and fierce clashes erupted between the two parties for three hours.
The clashes led to the killing of 18 soldiers of the government forces and the injury of others. However, four militants of the HTS were also killed and others were wounded, the source said.
A military source of al-Fateh al-Mubin Operations Room, a group of extremist factions, told North Press that the Room thwarted an attempt by the government forces and militants of the Lebanese Hezbollah to advance to al-Malaja area, south of Idlib in northwest Syria.
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.