Military operations intensify in Idlib’s south-eastern countryside, amid Syrian Army advance towards Maarat al-Numan

North-Press Agency

Combat operations continue between the Syrian government forces and the loyal forces on one hand, and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham HTS (previously Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria) and other armed opposition groups on the other hand in Idlib's southeastern countryside, north-west of Syria, as the Russian warplanes continue their airstrikes on Idlib countryside.

While the opposition groups managed to retrieve the town of Tal-Minis and the village of al-Ghadfa, southeast of Idlib, hours after the Syrian government forces took control over them, under mutual intensive shelling by both sides on the axes of Tal-Minis, al-Barasa, Maar-Shamarin, Maar-Shamsha, and Maar-Shourin.

As the Syrian governmental forces, backed by the Russian intensive bombardment, are closing in on Damascus-Aleppo highway M5 that passes through the city of Maarat al-Numan as the distance now is about 4 kilometers.

The Syrian government forces' ongoing advance have imposed control over 40 villages and hamlets, were controlled during the last 100 hours, since the start of the military campaign