The last week of January turned badly for Idlib militants. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda), the Turkish-backed National Front for Liberation and their allies appeared to be unable to contain the offensive of the Syrian Army, lost several key areas and suffered notable casualties.
On January 27, units of the Syrian Army, led by the Tiger Forces, breached the defense of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham-led forces in southeastern Idlib and by the evening of January 28, they liberated the key town of Maarat al-Numan on the M5 highway. Meanwhile, the 4th Armoured Division and Iranian-backed militias launched an advance in southwestern Aleppo. On January 29, they liberated the town of Khan Tuman, also located on the M5 highway, and a number of smaller villages near Aleppo city.
On January 30, government forces launched an advance from Maarat al-Numan towards the town of Saraqib, located on the crossroad of the M4 and M5 highways.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and Turkish-backed groups conducted several counter-attacks in southwestern Aleppo and southeastern Idlib. At least 2 suicide bombers were employed to target new positions of the Syrian Army. Militants also received reinforcements from the Turkish-occupied part of Aleppo province. Despite these, they were not able to stop the advance.
On January 31, government forces continued their operation in southwestern Aleppo.
All these took place amid a bombing campaign by the Syrian Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Forces. According to reports by pro-militant sources, over 200 airstrikes hit fortified positions, HQs, weapon depots and columns of militants on the frontline as well as deep inside Greater Idlib.
The Russian Defense Ministry said that as of January 29, militants lost 8 battle tanks, 15 infantry fighting vehicles, 49 vehicles armed with large-caliber guns in clashes with the Syrian Army. These numbers have not been confirmed by visual evidence and seem to be overestimated.
The ongoing Syrian Army advance caused a public negative reaction from Turkey and the United States, that have been one of the key supporters of the so-called Idlib opposition for a long time. Nonetheless, it appears that they have no direct leverages of pressure to rescue Idlib radicals as their defense is crumbling. Local sources say that the next ‘humanitarian ceasefire’ could start not earlier than the Syrian Army would secure the M4-M5 crossroad and the area east of it.
“Turned out badly for Idlib militants”…hahahahahaha! Understatement of the year!
Hey, I was just about to say that! Well, ladies first….
Jake Karen is my Friend
Calm down.
Duly noted, no harm intended…
I guess my sarcasm got lost in translation….
My respect to you.I was joking thanks Jake.
Oh, ok.
Snake
I’m your friend? Thanks.
Don’t worry, Your my friend
Thanks, AJ.
Heh. Thank you, sir.
The work you are doing here is important. It gives us hope and strength to go on. Thank You.
Syria must start using RPG 7 and plant land mines at Turkey border.LNA must lay sea mines to destroy navy vessels.
Land mines along the Turkish border would certainly be a useful tactic.
Has anybody seen the VT articles on the US trying to block the Russians, then scarpered when the Russian helicopters turned up? Brilliant, but, any others reporting the story?
I read that article. The US and Turkey whingeing again because their cannon fodder is been… well…shot up…hahaha…What do ya expect Trump? Get the phuck out mofo’s or die.
Cannot understand the whinging, when neither nation invited to invade the sovereign nation of Syria.
Not sure if previous comment got through. VT article, US trying to block Russian convoy. Well, the Russian helicopters turned up and the US scarpered. Nice work. Any other news on the story?
I’m still looking for more references to the US C-27 Spartan that was reportedly shot down in Iraq. Also originally reported on VT.
If you look at what India is saying about the UAE who is their staunchest supporter, were first to give Modi everything he asked for with the recent attacks on Kashmir, what you will hear is that the UAE and KSA now regard the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation and political Islam is being abandoned by UAE and KSA.
Idlib rebels are having trouble coming to understand there has been a complete reversal of UAE and KSA political positioning, this coincided with Trump’s Palestinian deal designed to fail.
Assad too is slow to comprehend what is happening, watch Putin’s response to Netanyahu in Moscow yesterday, this could be the end for Palestine and Syria after Assad, Syria will likely become a vassel state of Jewish apartheid single state including Palestinians only as slaves.
Hahahahaha
After Dr. Assad’s brilliant strategies of defending Syria, getting the best allies to help and trying to protect Syrian civilians, he’s could hardly be characterized as “slow”. From almost certain defeat and occupation by terrorists and the US, he has brought his country to certain victory.
Assad didn’t run, neither did Sisi, things and loyalties change, at the moment everything is hinged on Turkey supporting Libya against Haftar, UAE is now biggest threat, KSA is willing to come back into the fold step away from israel if handled properly, I’m The Messiah and have just preformed another miracle in the fire lost a couple of cars garage carport racing bike trailor property burnt out but Allah (swt) made fire calm saved house 240 volt system and small work shop, I saved the 450, God (swt) saved neighbours who stayed to fight fire when He (swt) saved my house, I was riding out on my 450 enduro KTM after visiting neighbours wind was 150 kmh fire on top of me 3 minutes up fire trail it all went quiet so I turned to come back but couldn’t as fire was too hot even without wind, God slowed wind saved my house so I could continue to be the Messiah, have preformed many other extraterrestrial miracles besides this one, need to be in Damascus telling my story but Assad is very slow to comprehend.
Everything is documented time places and witnessed by fire response field officers and people at evacuation centre also went back top of mt.Skanzi 4 hours after fire had passed and witnessed strange easterly wind reminded me of when I was on the cross although it was only a replica of me it still felt very weird.
The SAA seizes Saraqib and resistance in southern Idlib becomes basically untenable…. That is why the Turks have suddenly rushed in some “observers” and put up fraudulent “observation posts” to try to thwart that city’s seizure!
Great job !!!
I send you more prayers – keep pushing forward.
KEEP POUNDING !!! KEEP POUNDING !!! KEEP POUNDING 24/7 !!!
UNTIL “ALL” THE TERRORIST GANGSTERS ARE COMPLETELY ELIMINATED.
Syrian Armed Forces, Russia & the other Syria allies are doing super-duper tremendous job.
KEEP POUNDING !!! KEEP POUNDING !!! KEEP POUNDING 24/7 UNTIL YOU REACH THE BORDER OF TURKEY.
You must keep Turkey, Israel, U.S., etc. out of Syrian airspace and off Syrian real estate.
I have to emphasize this important security measure: SYRIAN ARMED FORCES, RUSSIA AND THE OTHER SYRIA ALLIES “MUST” MAINTAIN A VERY STRICT LAW ENFORCEMENT WATCH ALONG THE WHOLE SYRIAN BORDER (MILITARY PRESENCE); NO VEHICLES OR PEOPLE CAN ENTER INTO SYRIA WITHOUT BEING FULLY APPROVED.
SYRIA’S BORDER LENGTH extends 793 km (493 mi) ENE – WSW and 431 km (268 mi) SSE – NNW; it is bounded on the N by Turkey, on the E and SE by Iraq, on the S by Jordan, on the SW by Israel, and on the W by Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea, with a land boundary length of 2,253 km (1,400 mi) and a coastline of 193 km (120 mi).
Liberate these areas soon via off road:
…ROAD #7 Deir ez-Zur, Syria region, Euphrates River, etc.;
…ROAD #2 Al-Tanf, Syria region.
Don’t stop, SAA. Keep on moving, develop momentum.