Syrian forces advance towards terrorists' key bastion in Idlib
Syrian forces, backed by fighters from allied popular defense groups, have continued their military operations in the southern part of the country’s province of Idlib, regaining control of several regions and reaching the edges of a major bastion of foreign-sponsored Takfiri terrorists there.
The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Thursday that Syrian troopers and their allies were just three kilometers (1.8 miles) away from the town of Khan Sheikhun, after capturing five villages to its northwest overnight.
The government troops’ advance towards Khan Sheikhun will tighten the noose around the last remaining pocket of militant-held territory in neighboring Hama province, including the towns of Morek, Kafr Zeita and Latamneh.
Khan Sheikhun lies on a key highway coveted by government troops. The road runs through Idlib, connecting the capital Damascus with the strategic northern city of Aleppo.
Syrian government forces have been regaining control of further areas once held by militants in Idlib province.
On Wednesday, Syrian army troops and their allies succeeded to capture the villages of Kafr Ain, Khirbat al-Murshed, Mintar and Tal A'as following heavy clashes with members of the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham Takfiri terrorist group, formerly known as al-Nusra Front.
Separately, the Syrian military confirmed that one of its jet fighters has been shot down in the skies over the southern flank of Idlib province.
An unnamed military source told Syria’s official news agency SANA that the warplane was targeting the positions of Jabhat Fateh al-Sham in al- Tamana'ah town, when it was struck by an anti-aircraft missile fired by the extremists.
The source noted that the fate of the pilot remains unknown.
The Syrian army declared in a statement on August 5 the start of an offensive against foreign-backed militants in Idlib province, after Takfiris positioned in the de-escalation zone failed to honor a ceasefire and continued to target civilian neighborhoods.
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