IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – During the past two years, the city of Idlib, northwest Syria, has witnessed significant change on the map of control during a military campaign by Syrian government forces, Russia, and Iran in south and east of the governorate in 2019, according to military experts and concerned in the military affairs.
Idlib governorate is strategically important for being the last and most major stronghold under the control of Turkish-backed Syrian armed opposition groups, of which Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
Government military operation
“During a military campaign, Syrian government forces and Russia managed to take full control over important areas including Jarjanaz, Saraqeb, Abu al-Duhur Military Airbase, Sinjar, and others in the eastern countryside of Idlib, which are known as areas east of the railway,” military expert, Khalaf al-Hussein told North Press.
In early 2020, the government forces and Russia expanded their campaign through which they managed to take control over the major city of the opposition groups in northwest Syria, Ma’arat al-Nu’man.
The government forces continued their advancement, then, until they won the strategic city of Kafr Nubul, which is a gate to Zawiya Mountain of high military importance.
Moreover, the government forces took control over the city of Khan Shaykhun, the town of Habait and dozens of villages and towns in the southern countryside of Idlib before waging the military campaign.
Additionally, they fully took control over villages of Shahshabo Mountain, south of Idlib, according to the military expert.
At that time, Turkish posts, which were scattered there, turned a blind eye to the events in the area raising people’s resentment, “which forced Turkey to deploy its posts and support the Syrian armed groups in order to curb the government advancement,” al-Hussein pointed out.
“And through signing a ceasefire agreement with Russia in March of 2020, Turkey succeeded to do so,” he believes.
Several dominant parties
The map of control in Idlib is divided between several parties, the most prominent of which is HTS which is seizing about 70% of Idlib.
Meanwhile, Syrian government forces and their allies Russia and Iran are seizing about 30%, military sources from Idlib told North Press.
“Following the government military campaign, the Turkish troops established about 70 military posts in Idlib, most of which are in Zawiya Mountain,” Abdulrahman al-Omar, activist interested in Idlib military affairs, said.
Russian forces are militarily deploying in Abu Dalia, Sinjar, Abu al-Duhur, and Saraqeb, east of Idlib, while they are administratively deploying in several areas south of Idlib including Kafr Nubul and Ma’arat al-Nu’man.
As for the Iranian-backed groups, they are mainly deploying near areas under “Russian occupying forces,” east the governorate, according to al-Omar.
Iran has essential posts in each of al-Sheikh Barakat, Ejaz, Tel Maraq, Saraqeb, and al-Talhiya and it has sub-posts in each of Hizareen and Milaja, in the southern countryside of Idlib.
Iran is existing in Idlib for several reasons the first of which is to control details happening in Syria, according to the opposition military expert, Ahmad Rahhal.
In an audio recording statement, Rahhal told North Press, “Iran tries to be in every Syrian area in order to prevent any solution in Syria that Iran may not be pleased about.”
“Within HTS-held areas there are several groups that are affiliated with the National Front for Liberation, National Army, and Islamic groups,” al-Hussein mentioned.
“However, the main and actual militarily control over the governorate is in the hand of HTS and they are running it civilly through their civil wing, Syrian Salvation Government (a Syrian opposition government backed by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, seen as illegitimate by the Syrian Interim Government),” he stated.
Meanwhile, the National Front for Liberation that includes Syrian opposition groups are deployed on the whole frontlines with the government forces.
Those groups are mainly operating in the city of Ariha, and the towns of Baluon, Taftanaz, al-Mastumah, al-Nerab, south and southeast Idlib, according to al-Hussein.
Islamic extremist groups
Islamic extremist groups in Idlib are secretly operating in light of HTS ruling the governorate and stifling those groups especially, Guardians of Religion Organization, which HTS have been seeking to get rid of them for a year, according to a military source of an armed group.
Guardians of Religion Organization, Jabhat Ansar al-Islam, and Ansar al-Din Front are mainly operating in villages and towns of Jisr al-Shughur, west of Idlib, as they are poorly operating in the city of Idlib and areas in Sahl al-Roj, according to the source.