Russian aircrafts shells various parts of opposition factions sites western Syria
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – On Sunday, the Russian warplanes intensified airstrikes on Syrian opposition factions-held areas in Idlib’s countryside, northwest Syria. Simultaneously, Syrian government forces launched a ground offensive against the same areas.
“Russian warplanes launched eight airstrikes on the opposition factions’ strongholds in the west parts of Idlib city, the vicinity of Mseibin village, Idlib southern countryside and the vicinity of Sheikh Yousef village, west of Idlib,” a military source of the opposition told North Press.
The airstrikes targeted the opposition gathering near a water pumping station which distributes water to the entire Idlib, the source added.
The airstrikes coincided with intensive flight by Russian drones in the skies of Idlib, Hama, and Aleppo cities.
Meanwhile, Syrian government forces targeted the opposition factions’ sites in the vicinity of the towns Zakoom, al-Daqmaq, Kulaidan, al-Hamidiyah and al-Ankawi in the Ghab Plain, northwest of Hama, with heavy artillery shells and rocket launchers.
Similarly, heavy artillery shells targeted oppositions factions’ sites in the vicinity of Kabanah hills in Lattakia northern countryside.
Over a week, the Russian warplanes has been sporadically targeting various the opposition-held areas in Idlib and Aleppo.
The Russian assault came in the wake of a statement by Sergei Lavrov who stressed the need to fight Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, fprmerly al-Nusra Front) and eliminate it in Idlib.
For months, areas in Syria’s northwest have been witnessing mutual shelling between parties to the conflict in different areas amid news on government military reinforcements to different areas in the region.
Although the de-escalation zone in northwest Syria is subject to a Russian-Turkish ceasefire agreement signed in March 2020, the area witnesses frequent mutual bombardment despite the entry of the ceasefire into force.