Syrian Army in Final Stage of Preparations to Launch Idlib Operation

The sources said that the army has put a large number of its elite force on alert in Northeastern Hama and Southern Aleppo to kick off the final phase of an imminent operation to capture the strategic Abu al-Dhohour airbase in Southeastern Idlib.

The sources said that the first phase of the army operation will end after purging Northeastern Hama and Southern Aleppo of terrorists.

The sources further added that the army is not expected to face much resistance in its operation in Idlib as rifts have recently widened among terrorist groups in the region.

Military sources said on Friday that the army troops achieved a major victory against the Al-Nusra Front (Tahrir al-Sham Hay’at or the Levant Liberation Board) after a series of week-long back-and-forth clashes in Southern Aleppo, capturing a strategic region.

The sources said that the army soldiers, spearheaded by elements of the 3rd Legion, 5th Legion and Republican Guards, managed to impose full control over al-Rashadiyah region in the early hours of Friday.

This key town is located a few kilometers West of the main government supply line leading to Aleppo city.

At the moment, the army is trying to fortify al-Rashadiyah in order to prevent an Al-Nusra counter-offensive.