Syrian forces fully liberate main militant stronghold in southern Idlib

Syrian army soldiers, backed by pro-government fighters from popular defense groups, have fully liberated a strategic city in the country’s northwestern province of Idlib as they continue to gain more ground in battles against foreign-sponsored Takfiri terrorists.

Syria's General Command of the Army and Armed Forces said in a statement that government forces were in full control of Ma'arrat al-Nu'man city, which lies 33 km south of Idlib, on Wednesday.

“Our armed forces continued operations in southern parts of Idlib with the aim of putting an end to crimes committed by terrorist groups, which continue to target safe zones, civilians and army posts with rockets and explosives,” the statement added.

It further noted that Syrian soldiers have managed to establish control over more than two dozen villages and towns after days of intense fighting with Takfiri terrorists.

The statement also underlined that the Syrian army will continue to carry out its constitutional, national and moral duties to purge the last remnants of terror outfits from the entire Syrian soil.

The liberation of Ma'arrat al-Nu'man will now enable the Syrian army to secure the road that links Hama to Aleppo, and will facilitate transportation between the capital Damascus and Aleppo to return to the pre-conflict conditions.

The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Takfiri terrorists had withdrawn from the city late on Tuesday.

Syrian army had reportedly left a road west of Ma'arrat al-Nu'man open in order to give Takfiri terrorists a chance to pull out and to avoid street battles inside the strategic city.

The territorial gain came as Syrian forces are also advancing against insurgents west of the city of Aleppo.

Lebanon’s Arabic-language al-Manar television network reported that Syrian army soldiers had taken control of a number of neighborhoods southwest of Aleppo, killing and wounding scores of terrorists from Jabhat Fatah al-Sham –previously known as the Nusra Front – terror group in the process.

On Saturday, Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates wrote to the United Nations, stressing that the operation in Idlib and Aleppo against Takfiri elements "will not stop until the elimination of those terrorists, who threaten safety and security of Syrian civilians."

The Syrian army declared the start of an offensive against foreign-sponsored militants in Idlib on August 5 last year.

SS