HTS, SNA factions make territorial gains in NW Syria
ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) – Northwestern Syria witnessed on Thursday a significant military escalation as intense clashes continued between Syrian government forces and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, once known as al-Nusra Front), along with Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA).
The Syrian Ministry of Defense issued a statement on Wednesday, stating that “armed terrorist organizations” launched a large-scale attack using heavy and medium weapons targeting military sites and villages in the Aleppo and Idlib countryside.
The ministry described the attack as “the largest of its kind,” targeting secure villages, towns, and military positions in the region.
According to al-Watan pro-government newspaper, the government forces retaliated with intensive rocket and artillery fire on HTS positions near the towns of Taqad, al-Abzimo, Kafr Amma, Kafr Taal, and Tadil in the western countryside of Aleppo.
The bombardment also targeted areas around the cities of al-Atarib and Darat Izza, especially along the Regiment 111 axis to the east of Darat Izza.
The newspaper further reported that joint Syrian and Russian airstrikes intensified, hitting SNA positions in the al-Atarib area and near the village of al-Wasat in the west of Aleppo, destroying several targets near Darat Izza and the vicinity of Qubtan al-Jabal.
Meanwhile, the HTS and SNA factions announced the capture of new villages and positions in the Idlib and Aleppo countryside.
The HTS claimed to have taken control of the Regiment 46 base, one of the largest government military sites in the west of Aleppo, and captured over 10 Syrian soldiers.
Opposition media platforms also reported that the factions had captured the strategic village of Dadikh and its surrounding hill in the east of Idlib after fierce fighting.
In the west of Aleppo, the SNA factions reportedly seized 32 villages and military points as the attack entered its second day, with ongoing violent clashes between both sides.