Opposition factions retreat from Maarrat Al-Nu’man along with regime attempts to advance into rural Aleppo
Opposition factions retreated from Maarrat Al-Nu’man city following fierce clashes against the regime forces. Meanwhile, fierce clashes are underway on the frontline in Hish, south of Idlib, as regime forces are trying to advance into the area amid intense bombardment.
Since Friday evening, the regime forces have imposed their control over 26 villages and towns: Telmans, Ma’ar Shmasha, Deir Sharqi, Deir Al-Gharbi, Ma’ar Shmarin, Ma’rata, Al-Ghadfa, Ma’ar Shourin Al-Za’alana, Al-Dana, Tal Sheikh, Sawami’e, Khirbet Mezyan, Masaran, Bsida, Taqana, Babolin, Kafr Bassin, Marhatat, Hamidia, Dar Al-Salaam, Salhia, Kafruma, Maarrat Al-Nu’man city, Wadi Al-Daif and Hantutin).
On the other hand, fierce clashes are continuing on frontlines in Khan Tuman, Al-Sahafiyeen and Ikyhar Al-Bazzar as regime forces are trying to advance in the area.
SOHR activists documented the killing of 21 regime soldiers and loyalists and 14 jihadis in Idlib battles. Accordingly, the number of fatalities in the ranks of regime forces who were killed since the ground offensive began on Friday evening rose to 147, while 121 jihadis among 151 opposition fighters were killed in the same period.
Regime ground forces fired artillery shells targeting areas in Jabal Al-Zawiya, Khan Al-Sabil and Jisr Al-Shughur city in Idlib countryside, Al-Khudur and Tardin in the northern countryside of Latakia, and areas in the western and southern countryside of Aleppo.
In connection to this, Russian jets executed 63 raids targeting Maarrat Al-Nu’man city, Kafruma, Hass and Kafr Nubl.
Also regime forces targeted Ariha, Jabal Al-Zawiya and other areas in both Aleppo and Idlib countryside with 59 airstrikes.
For their part, helicopters dropped 57 barrel bombs on the western and southern countryside of Aleppo, Maarrat Al-Nu’man and Jabal Al-Arba’in in Idlib countryside.
Observatory activists documented the killing of two civilians due to rocket shelling on Kafr Lata village in Jabal Al-Arba’in in Idlib countryside.