The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Regime forces capture ten towns and villages in 48 hours, and over 200 airstrikes target the “de-escalation” zone

Regime soldiers and loyalists captured new villages and towns after blocking the M5 highway, putting the area between Khan Al-Sabil town and Maarrat Al-Nu’man city under firearm. They also captured Al-Dana town and wrapped around Maarrat Al-Nu’man city cutting off the factions’ supply routs west of the city and controlling Hantutin and Banin villages by firearm.

In connection to this, the faction evacuated their positions in Al-Dana, Al-Za’lana and Al-Wardah Al-Shamiyah checkpoint just after clashes against the regime forces.

Accordingly, the regime forces imposed control over ten towns and areas in rural Idlib in less than 48 hours: Al-Ghadfah, Talmannas, Maarshamsheh, Deir Sharqi, Deir Gharbi, Maarshmarin, Maaratah, Maarshorin, Al-Za’lana and Al-Dana in addition to other positions in the area.

The clashes and bombardment which followed yesterday’s attacks left gross human losses in the ranks of both parties. Observatory activists have documented the killing of 88 regime soldiers since yesterday evening. Also 67 jihadies among 88 fighters were killed in the regime bombardment and clashes.

The death toll is expected to increase due to the presence of injuries some of whom are in serious conditions, amid information about other fatalities.

On the other hand, regime and Russian aircraft are continuing to target several areas in both Idlib and Aleppo. SOHR activists documented nearly 86 raids executed by Russian jets targeting places south of Aleppo and its western countryside, Maarrat Al-Nu’man, Maarshourin, Maraand and Kafr Nubl in both Idlib and Aleppo countryside.

Also, regime jets carried out more than 68 airstrikes on Khan Al-Sabil, Dadikh, Saraqib, and other areas in the south-eastern countryside of Idlib.

For their part, regime helicopters dropped 56 barrel bombs on Maarrat Al-Nu’man countryside and areas in the eastern countryside of Idlib.

Meanwhile, jihadi groups fired rockets on regime positions in Kafr Zita city, north of Hama.

SOHR sources reported this afternoon that the factions and jihadis achieved advancement in the areas of Mushaymis, Samaka and Al-Berseh, north-east of Maarrat Al-Nu’man.

The battles in the north-eastern countryside of Maarrat Al-Nu’man left fatalities in the ranks of both warring forces, in which SOHR activists documented the killing of four jihadis and eight regime soldiers.