Geostrategic Media Political Commentary, Analysis, Security, Defense
Syrian army units and pro-government militia are gaining ground in multiple provinces, killing dozens of terrorists, their commanders and destroying vehicles and materiel, SANA news agency reports on Sunday.
In Hama province, 39 militants of different affiliations have been killed and dozens injured in recent fighting. Government sources point at Islamists from al-Nusra Front, the Levant Front (Jabhat al-Shamiya). SANA also reported a number of field commanders killed and “different launchers” destroyed.
Government troops have reportedly destroyed headquarters of Jund al-Aqsa Salafi jihadist group in Khan Sheikhoun in the neighboring Idlib Governorate.Near Palmyra in Homs province, the army — supported by air force fighter jet strikes — destroyed several fortified sites of ISIL, killing almost 30 militants, according to FARS news agency.
The Syrian armed forces have also repelled an attack of ISIL militants on an airbase near the eastern city of Deir ez-Zor, destroying 58 jihadists, according to SANA.
In the south of Aleppo Governorate, government forces took control of two villages, killing an unspecified number of adversaries, some of them aboard machine gun-equipped trucks.
In the east of the province, the Syrian Arab army, alongside popular self-defense forces and the Lebanese Hezbollah, destroyed ISIL fortified positions and hideouts in several areas outside the city of Aleppo, including Sheikh Ahmad following a series of airstrikes by Russian Aerospace Defense Forces.With the support of Russian airstrikes, the Syrian Army has recently taken control of approximately 250 square kilometers in Aleppo province.
“The latest reports from the battlefield said that the government forces are very close to seizing back full control over Sheikh Ahmad after killing tens of Takfiri [ISIL] terrorists,” FARS reported. “Hundreds of Syrian forces are under a tight siege at the airbase as a result of the occupation of vast areas surrounding the airport by the terrorists. The Syrian army’s helicopters supply foodstuff and other needs to the Syrian troops defending the airport.”
Terrorists acknowledged their heavy casualties on social media and confirmed the death of an al-Nusra Front commander Faisal Sharif, nicknamed Abu Omair al-Ansari, according to SANA.
