Syrian Arab Army (SAA) reached the outskirt of the city of Saraqib in the southeastern Idlib countryside after imposing control of several towns in the region.
The army captured the towns of Kafr Battikh, Tell Mardikh, Jawbas, Qomhane, Hatamiyeh and Tell Dibs to the west and southwest of Saraqib, after a few hours of clashes with al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies.
SAA troops are now 3 km away from Saraqib’s city center. The city, which is located on the M5 highway, is the current target of the army.
A day earlier, the SAA began advancing towards Saraqib, capturing the towns of al-Qahira, al-Jaradah, Khan Assubul, Maarrat Dibsah and Ain Halbane.
Militants positions along the M5 highway, which links Damascus with Aleppo, appear to be on the brink of complete collapse. HTS and its allies are reportedly sustaining heavy losses in their futile attempts to stop the SAA.
