Syrian army troops seize control of most of strategic city in Idlib

Syrian government troops and allied fighters from popular defense groups have manage to establish control over most neighborhoods of a strategic militant-held city in the country’s northwestern province of Idlib as they continue to score more territorial gains in the last major stronghold of foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants.  

Syria’s official news agency SANA reported that soldiers and their allies pressed ahead with their counter-terrorism operations in the southern countryside of Idlib on Tuesday, and managed to liberate several areas in Ma'arrat al-Nu'man city, which lies 33 kilometers (21 miles) south of Idlib.

The report added that the development came after Syrian army troops had enveloped the city from three directions earlier in the day.

Government forces are now combing the city after cutting off militants' supply routes.

The capture of Ma'arrat al-Nu'man will enable the Syrian army to secure the road that links Hama to Aleppo. Government troops prioritize such an achievement as it will facilitate transportation between the capital Damascus and Aleppo to return to the pre-conflict conditions.

Turkey vows to hit back if its posts in Idlib threatened

Meanwhile, Turkey warned on Tuesday it will retaliate in what it described as “self-defense” in case any of its observation posts in northwest Syria are threatened amid Syrian army advances there.

“A response will be given in self-defense to any attempts that would jeopardize the security of our observation and control posts in the region,” the Turkish Defense Ministry said in a post published on its official Twitter page.

On Monday, Syrian government forces liberated Ma’asaran town and the key village of al-Sawami’a from Takfiri terrorists.

PressTV-Syrian troops retake more militant-held towns in Idlib

Syrian government forces liberate two more key areas during a large-scale counter-terrorism offensive in Idlib.

The capture came after "intense clashes" with the extremists, SANA said, noting that army soldiers inflicted heavy losses upon the terrorists and destroyed their hideouts and military hardware.

The Syrian troops had earlier entered the key towns and villages of Ma’ar Shourin, al-Za’alana, al-Ghadfeh and al-Dana after dismantling foreign-backed militant camps in the same region, the report added. 

PressTV-Syrian forces advance on key Idlib city in anti-terror operation

Syrian forces inch closer to a key city in the northwestern Idlib Province as part of a counter-terrorism operation, but foreign-backed militants prevent civilians from leaving through humanitarian corridors.

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.

PressTV-Syria forces close in on key militant-held city in Idlib: Monitor

Syrian forces make decisive advances towards a key Takfiri-held city in the northwestern province of Idlib.

It came after those positioned in the de-escalation zone failed to honor a ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey and continued to target civilian neighborhoods.

Under the Sochi agreement, all militants in the demilitarized zone that surrounds Idlib, and also parts of the provinces of Aleppo and west-central province of Hama, were supposed to pull out heavy arms by October 17 2018, with the Takfiri groups having to withdraw two days earlier.

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