The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies resumed on January 4 their strikes on the southeastern Idlib countryside, where a ground operation was launched last month.
According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the SAA artillery and rocket launchers struck terrorists’ positions in cities of Ma`arat al-Nu`man and Saraqib as well as the nearby towns of Ma’ar Shoreen, Ma’ar Shamshah and Talmenes.
“The strikes eliminated a number of terrorists, injured others and destroyed their weapons and ammunition,” the SANA’s reporter said.
The Syrian Arab Air Force (SyAAF) and the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) also resumed their airstrikes on southeast Idlib, targeting the outskirt of Ma`arat al-Nu`man, Saraqib, Talmenes, Khan Assubul, Ma’saran, Aldier Algarbi and Ma’ar Shimmareen.
Earlier this week, the SAA repelled a large-scale attack led by al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) on its newly-established positions in southeast Idlib.
The ongoing intense strikes on southeast Idlib suggest that the SAA may soon resume its ground attack in the region. Weather conditions forced the army to halt the attack about two weeks ago.
