Three Syrian Soldiers Killed On Greater Idlib Front In Yet Another Attack By HTS (Photos)

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On January 14, al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched another attack against the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) from the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib.

The group militants raided a position of the SAA near the village of Nahshabba in the northern Lattakia countryside. The militants attacked in the early morning hours, taking advantage of poor weather conditions and heavy fog which pinned army troops.

HTS claimed that six soldiers were killed as a result of the attack. Nevertheless, pro-government news sources reported three casualties only.

This was the third such attack by HTS in less than a week. On January 10, the group’s militants raided a position of the SAA near the town of Bsartun in the western countryside of Aleppo. Three militants and soldiers were killed during the attack. The next day, January 11, the militants raided another position in the town of Kawkabeh in the southern Idlib countryside. Seven soldiers were allegedly killed there.

The SAA responded to the previous attacks with a series of artillery and rocket strikes that targeted HTS positions in the eastern Idlib countryside and the western countryside of Aleppo.

HTS intensified its attacks in December as Russian efforts to restore ties between Ankara, who maintains a large force in Greater Idlib, and Damascus began to gain momentum.

The terrorist group is apparently attempting to prevent a Turkish-Syrian rapprochement that could mark the end of its rule in Greater Idlib. It is yet to receive a proper response for its recent violations of the ceasefire in the region.

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