The Syrian army enters Khan Shaykhun amid reports of major opposition retreat
Idlib – North-Press Agency
After a large military operation, the Syrian government forces managed to achieve a strategic advance by entering the city of Khan Shaykhun amid reports of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Turkistan Islamic Party withdrawal from the city’s remaining neighborhoods, and Syrian government’s combing operations to secure and clear the left explosives in the city.
The attack was also accompanied by intensive shelling on the city, which the Syrian government forces had lost control in 2014, while the city witnessed an attack on April 4, 2017, which caused casualties.
Local and international authorities have condemned the Syrian government forces of using the chemical weapons in the bombing on Khan Shaykhun, followed by US airstrikes against the Syrian government air bases in several Syrian areas under the Syrian regime influence.
The aerial and ground bombardment and the military operation caused a large-scale displacement wave, where about tens of thousands of people have been displaced since the 11th of August.
The recent escalation followed the 13th round of Astana talks, which stressed on the political solution, amid the expectation of holding a trilateral summit includes the presidents of the three guarantor countries of Astana’s process regarding Syria on September 11 in Ankara.
Syria Response Coordinators Team (a relief statistical team) has published statistics on Monday regarding the death toll and the number of IDPs during the recent operations in the de-escalation zones in northwestern Syria.
As the number of casualties has far reached more than 85 people, including 24 children, in Idlib and Hama governorates, since the ceasefire truce has been violated by the Syrian government forces.
During the period between 11 and 19 August, the number of IDPs has reached more than 141,193 displaced people, while more than 869,992 people have been displaced since early February this year.
The response coordinators team added that the number of destroyed schools, bakeries, water, power stations, and hospitals has reached about 323 facilities, including 106 schools and 96 medical and service facilities.