Syrian Army makes a major push towards Idlib’s strategic town
On Saturday evening in the Idlib Governorate’s western countryside, the Syrian Arab Army’s 45th Regiment of the 1st Armored Division – in coordination with the National Defense Forces (NDF) of Joureen and the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) – made a major push towards the strategic town of Al-Sirmaniyah, capturing several small hilltops overlooking the area from the Islamist rebels of Jabhat Al-Nusra (Syrian Al-Qaeda group), Liwaa Suqour Al-Ghaab (FSA contingent), and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham. The Syrian Arab Army’s 45th Regiment and their allies began their assault at Al-Sirmaniyah by attacking the southern perimeter of the town; this resulted in the pro-government forces taking full control of Point 1112, which overlooks Al-Sirmaniyah’s southern flank and much of Sahl Al-Ghaab (Al-Ghaab Plains).
According to a battlefield journalist embedded in the Sahl Al-Ghaab front, the Syrian Armed Forces are now within striking distance of Al-Sirmaniyah after losing this aforementioned town following their defeat at Jisr Al-Shughour in May of this year.
The town of Al-Sirmaniyah is strategically located at the northern rim of the Al-Ghaab Plains that is situated between both the Idlib and Hama Governorates; if captured by the Syrian Armed Forces, they will be within striking distance of the rebel stronghold of Jisr Al-Shughour. Fighting is still ongoing between the Syrian Armed Forces and Jaysh Al-Fateh at the southern and western flanks of Al-Sirmaniyah as the former continues to advance at the town’s outskirts.
