Syria in Last 24 Hours: Army Tightens Noose on Terrorists in Khan Sheikhoun

The Syrian Army troops, backed by artillery and missile units, engaged in fierce clashes with Tahrir al-Sham al-Hay’at (the Levant Liberation Board or the Al-Nusra Front) terrorists in al-Hobait road in Southern Idlib and took control of the town of al-Horsh al-Tavileh and Tal al-Arji near Khan Sheikhoun city.

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 continued its military operations in Southern Idlib, and took control of new military points in the surrounding areas of Khan Sheikhoun as it tightened its grip over the strategic city.

The Syrian Army troops, backed by artillery and missile units, engaged in fierce clashes with Tahrir al-Sham al-Hay’at terrorists in al-Hobait road in Southern Idlib and took control of the town of al-Horsh al-Tavileh and Tal al-Arji near Khan Sheikhoun city.

Meantime, a military source noted that the siege has been laid on Khan Sheikhoun from the Eastern and Western sides in the Syrian Army’s recent advances, and said that at least 47 terrorists, including foreign militants, have been killed in recent clashes.

The Syrian Army is very close now to the strategic city of Khan Sheikhoun which is a key stronghold of the terrorists in Idlib province.

Once Khan Sheikhoun comes under control, Ma’aret al-Numan Road will be the next target of the Syrian army and it will lay siege on hundreds of kilometers of territories there, including the towns of al-Latamineh, Kafar Zita and Mourek in Northern Hama.

Meantime, media reports said on Saturday that the most important commander of Tahrir al-Sham al-Hay’at in charge of training special and elite terrorists was killed in the Syrian Army’s military operations.

Pro-militant social media reports quoted sources close to terrorist groups in Northern Syria as saying that the Tahrir al-Sham’s Belarus commander Abu Soleiman, nom de guerre Abu Rafiq, was killed in clashes with the Syrian Army in Southern Idlib.

Deir Ezzur

The Arab militias of the Syrian Democratic Forces have retreated from areas under their control in Eastern Deir Ezzur after differences heightened between them and SDF’s Kurdish militias.

The Arabic-language Al-Alam news network reported widening rifts between Arab forces of the SDF and their commanders in Ab station of the town of al-Shahil in Southeastern Deir Ezzur which is regarded the main center of these militias.

It noted that the differences have emerged after the SDF exerted pressures on the residents of Hasaka and Deir Ezzur and also due to rising tensions between the two sides.

Al-Alam also said that the Arab forces of the SDF together with their weapons and military equipment have retreated from their military positions in Euphrates Bank.

Meantime, al-Khabour news website reported that the SDF has forced civilians in the city of Qameshli in Hasaka to join their ranks by exerting pressures on them and depriving them of public amenities and facilities.