Syrian Army given green light for Idlib offensive: source

The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and their allies have been given the green light to launch their long-awaited offensive in the Idlib Governorate, a military source in Damascus told Al-Masdar this afternoon.

According to the military source, the Syrian Arab Army’s elite Republican Guard, 4th Armored Division, and Tiger Forces will be leading the charge across the Idlib-Hama axis.

These three groups will be joined by a number of Syrian Arab Army divisions and paramilitary units, including the Palestinian-led Al-Quds Brigade (var. Liwaa Al-Quds), the National Defense Forces (NDF), and the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP).

The Syrian Army will also receive close military support from the Syrian Arab Air Force (SyAAF), Russian Air Force, and Hezbollah (Syrian and Lebanese groups).

The source said the Russian government will meet with their Turkish counterparts before the offensive to discuss the situation in the Idlib Governorate and its corresponding demilitarized zone.

While the offensive has been given the go ahead, it is likely to be limited to just the demilitarized zone at this time.

Making a big push into the Idlib Governorate would be very difficult and it will likely be met with fierce resistance from Turkey.

The goal of this offensive will be to push the jihadist rebels away from the government-held towns like Mhardeh and Sqaylabiyeh, and secure the demilitarized zone.