Syria Army Shells Militant-Held Areas in Northwest

TEHRAN (defapress) – Syrian artillery units pounded parts of the northwestern Idlib province, thwarting an infiltration attempt by militants, a report said.

News ID: 74935

Date: 13 January 2019 - 10:40

The violence came as officials in neighboring Turkey said efforts are being exerted to maintain stability in Idlib.

SANA said the shelling focused on the areas of Zarzour near the border with Turkey and Tamanaa near Maaret al-Numan that was taken this week by Al-Qaeda-linked Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from Turkey-backed opposition rebels. It reported casualties among the militants.

The Britain-based so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the government shelled six areas in and near Idlib province.

The developments threaten to derail a ceasefire in the area reached in September between Turkey and Russia that averted a potentially catastrophic Syrian army assault on Idlib.

The deal required militant groups to vacate a frontline buffer zone, a move that was never implemented by the militants.

Message end/