Syrian regime, Russian escalated their battles in Idlib to reach international road

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) stated that the Syrian regime forces are continuing the intensive ground operations with dozens of rockets and artillery shells on Ma'arshamin, Ma`shorin and Ma'arshash in Ma`rat al-Numan countryside, amid Russian shelling of Russian warplanes in the area.

The Syrian regime forces, with Russian support, are seeking to get closer and closer to the Damascus-Aleppo International Highway, which passes through the city of Maarat al-Numan, with a distance of about 4 kilometers.

During the past 100 hours, the forces of the regime took control of 46 regions, namely: Umm Jalal, Umm al-Tuwainah, al-Khariba, al-Rabiah al-Sha`irah, Baranan, Sahal, al-Farajah, Abu Haba, al-Rifa, al-Sarj, Harran, al-Sayyidi, Tal al-Dam, Qutrah, Tal al-Sheikh, al-Baraisah, Mazra al-Ali,al-Burj al-Hiraki, al-Manzhar, Tahtaya, Halabah, al-Qurati, Christana, al-Tah, al-Maysarona, Sakieah, al-Sorman Abu Makki Marata, Falol, al-Hadithah, Abu Dafna, Tqana, Jarjnaz, al-Matarawah, Khirbet al-Sarwani, al-Bustan, al-Masara, Khirbet Arnabah and Musabitah, Abu Sharje, Balqa, Tal -Mans, and al-Ghadfa, in addition to small farms.

The Syrian forces and Russia have stepped up attacks on the so-called De-escalation zone after the failure of the Constitutional Committee and recent Astana meetings.

The Syrian regime forces talked yesterday about the possibility of handing over Ma`rat al-Numan without a fight, after threatening a major battle in Idlib.

Observers believe that Russia is seeking to put pressure on Turkey because of its delay in implementing the Astana agreements and the failure to dissolve Jabhet al-Nusra mercenaries according to previous Turkish pledges.

(T/S)

ANHA