Military build-up | Regime forces bring in reinforcement to Sahl Al-Ghab, while rebels and HTS boost positions in southern Idlib
Reliable SOHR sources have confirmed that the military reinforcement which regime forces brought in the past few days, headed to the frontlines in Sahl Al-Ghab in the north-western countryside of Hama not to Jabal Al-Zawiyah and southern Idlib.
The regime forces’ reinforcement coincided with frequent flights by reconnaissance drones over the area, amid repeated attacks on the rebel positions in order to cut off the major routes of supplies.
In Sahl Al-Ghab, the battles are expected to be more tuned to regime forces because of the flat terrain, in addition that regime forces control the heights of Al-Jeb Al-Ahmar from the west, and the heights of Jabal Shashaboo from the east. On these heights, there are military formations represented by the Russian-backed 5th Corps and pro-regime militiamen.
On the other hand, SOHR activists have reported that the rebel factions have boosted their positions on the frontlines of Idlib, especially the southern countryside, since Ahrar Al-Sham Movement and HTS brought in military reinforcement of their elite forces. Meanwhile, HTS claims that regime forces brought in military reinforcement to several frontlines in Idlib, but the “National Liberation Front” denies.
It is worth noting that Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham has announced the graduation of a new batch of fighters, while drills have been continuing in its camps near the Turkey border in northern and western Idlib.