Syrian Army Preparing for Large-Scale Offensive at Hama-Idlib Border

TEHRAN (defapress)- The Syrian Army troops are mass mobilizing their troops along the administrative border between Hama and Idlib as they prepare to launch their long-awaited offensive to retake the Abu al-Dhohour Military Airport in Eastern Idlib, military sources said Friday.

News ID: 66937

Date: 10 November 2017 - 14:22

The sources said that several units from the Tiger Forces, 4th Division, and Republican Guard have been pouring into Northeastern Hama for the upcoming offensive, while their allies from the Russian Air Force heavily bombard positions of Al-Nusra Front (Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at or the Levant Liberation Board) in the region.

With a large number of military personnel already in the region, the Syrian Army should be in prime position to launch the offensive to retake the large facility in Eastern Idlib.

The Abu al-Dhohour Military Airport was captured by Al-Nusra in 2015. It was under siege for two years prior to its loss.

Relevant reports said on Thursday that the army launched counterattacks against the terrorists' positions in Northeastern Hama, and regained control of the villages of Baleel, Abu al-Tolou and Um Khazim.

The artillery units of the army also targeted the areas of clashes on Thursday, killing and wounding tens of terrorists and forcing others to leave the region.

The Syrian army troops had a few days ago retreated from their positions in the villages of Baleel, Abu al-Tolou, Um Tarikiyeh and Um Khazim after they came under attack by the al-Nusra Front in Northern Hama.

The al-Nusra terrorists had used chemical weapons to stop the army's further advances in Northeastern Hama and push them back.

A military source said that a large number of reinforcements were sent to the region several hours after the villages were occupied by al-Nusra and operations started to retake these areas.