Syrian government forces at the doorsteps of Maarat al-Numan southern Idlib

North-Press Agency

The Syrian government forces continue to advance in north-west of the country, as these forces are now only a few hundreds of meters away from the strategic city of Maarat al-Numan on the M5 highway and the second largest city in Idlib governorate.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, during the past 24 hours, the Syrian government forces have taken control over seven towns in the vicinity of Maarat al-Numan, on the M5 highway.

The Syrian government affiliated newspaper al-Watan, stated that the Syrian government forces have become "around the corner from Maarat al-Numan" to enter and advance to parts of the M5 highway.

According to Syrian government official news agency SANA, a military source confirmed that the military campaign of the Syrian government forces in Idlib and in western Aleppo "will include sweeping field operations that will not stop before the eradication of the remaining armed opposition groups in all its names and forms."