Syria in Last 24 Hours: Army Deploys Heavy Flamethrower System to Idlib for Imminent Operation

The TOS-1A heavy flamethrower system is intended for direct fire support of advancing infantry and main battle tanks, and moves in their combat orders.

Meantime, the Syrian army continued its military advances in other parts of Syria over past 24 hours.

Tens of terrorists were killed and dozens more were injured during the Syrian army’s operations in provinces across Syria.

Idlib

The Syrian Army has deployed the TOS-1A, the latest version of the original Russia-made TOS-1 heavy flamethrower system, to Southern Idlib as the countdown has started for an imminent operation against terrorists in the region, a Russian media outlet reported.

The Arabic-language website of Sputnik quoted the Russian One website as reporting that the army has deployed TOS-1 A system also known as Solentsik to Southern Idlib to provide back up for the ground troops’ imminent operation in the region.

The TOS-1A heavy flamethrower system is intended for direct fire support of advancing infantry and main battle tanks, and moves in their combat orders. It is designed to engage military personnel, fortifications and light armored vehicles. The heavy flamethrower system is generally similar to multiple launch rocket systems, however it fires different types of rockets and has a shorter firing range.

Sputnik further said that TOS-1A is one of the most powerful launchers with broader range worldwide, adding that the Syrian Army utilized the system in a battle in Idlib province in January.

It added that only one time fire of the system can cover an area as large as 4sq/km.

Military field sources reported earlier on Saturday that the Russian and Syrian fighter jets carried out joint combat sorties over terrorist-held regions in Southern Idlib, destroying a main base and killing or wounding a number of militants.

The sources said that the warplanes pounded a main base of the terrorists near the town of Tarmalah in Southern Idlib.

They further said that the base was destroyed and tens of terrorists, including a number of non-Syrians, were killed in the air attack.

A sum of 12 military vehicles of the terrorists were destroyed, the sources said, adding that several commanders, including Abu Omar al-Haskawi, were among the terrorists killed in the raid.

Aleppo

The Turkish Army forwarded more troops and military hardware to the border with Syria to continue assault on the Kurdish militias as a number of Arab media outlets have claimed that the Syrian army plans to deploy in Afrin to stand against the Turkish aggression.

The sources said that the Turkish army has sent a convoy of military vehicles and ambulances to Hatay province at the border with Syria’s Idlib to further join the Ankara forces’ operation against the Kurds in Northern Aleppo.

The sources said that the convoy includes several personnel carrier vehicles, adding that the convoy is to be sent to Afrin to join Operation Olive Branch in Northwestern Aleppo.

The report came as the Arabic-language al-Mayadeen TV quoted well-informed sources as saying on Friday that the Syrian government and the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) agreed on the deployment of the Syrian Army troops in Afrin region which has come under attack by the Turkish army troops and their allied militants in recent weeks.

It added that the newly-concluded agreement is aimed at confronting the Turkish’s operation in Afrin.

Other Arab media outlets said that the Syrian Army has refused the offer from the YPG to enter the Afrin region of Aleppo.

Damascus

ISIL stormed the positions of Al-Nusra Front (Tahrir al-Sham Hay’at or the Levant Liberation Board) on Saturday and managed to push the rival terrorist group back from more points in the Yarmouk Palestinian Refugee Camp in the Southern countryside of Damascus city.

The ISIL captured al-Melion and al-Mashrou’a neighborhoods in Yarmouk camp in the Southern countryside of Damascus city after heavy clashes with Al-Nusra.

A number of members of both warring sides, including two Al-Nusra commanders, were killed in the infighting.