Northwestern Syria campaign (October 2017–February 2018)

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Northwestern Syria campaign (October 2017 – February 2018)
Part of the Syrian Civil War and the inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War and the Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War
2017-18 Idlib Pocket Operation.svg
Situation as of 13 February 2018
  Syrian Army control
  Syrian Opposition control
  SDF control
  Syrian Army & SDF control
Date9 October 2017 – 13 February 2018[13][14] (4 months and 4 days)
Location
Northwestern Syria
  • Northeastern Hama Governorate
  • Southeastern Idlib Governorate
  • Southwestern Aleppo Governorate
Result Major Syrian Army victory and end of ISIL presence in Hama, Aleppo and Idlib governorates
Territorial
changes
  • ISIL reenters the Aleppo Governorate and Idlib Governorate and captures more than 100 villages from HTS and pro-government forces[15]
  • Syrian Army captures Abu al-Duhur Airbase[16] and more than 300 towns and villages, including Abu al-Duhur, from the rebels in Hama, Aleppo and Idlib governorates[17][18]
  • Syrian Army encircles ISIL in a large pocket which spans the three provinces,[19] then captures the entire ISIL pocket[20]
  • Remnants of ISIL forces relocate from Hama to rebel-held Idlib and after fighting surrender to the rebels[14]
Belligerents

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

  • Liwa al-Aqsa

Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)
Syrian opposition Free Syrian Army (from 31 Oct.)[1]
Sham Legion (from 30 Oct.)[2]
Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria[3]
Abu Amara Special Task Battalion[4]
Jaysh al-Ahrar[5]
Ahrar al-Sham[6]
Al-Qaeda central command[7]

  • Badia Army
Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement[8]
Ajnad al-Kavkaz[8][9]
Katibat al-Ghuraba al-Turkistan[10]

Syria (from 22 Oct.)

  • Syrian Armed Forces
Hezbollah
Russia (from 22 Oct.)
 Iran[11]
Emblem of Liwa Al-Quds.svg Liwa al-Quds[12]
Commanders and leaders
Unknown

Abu Mohammad al-Julani (Emir of Tahrir al-Sham)
Abu Uthman Ashdaa †
(Special Forces commander)[21]
Abu Bakr Tuhaidi †[22]
(Leader of the Movement of Mujahiddeen of the Sunnis of Iran)
Salakhuddin Shishani †[23][24]
(Emir of Jaysh Usrah)
Abu Dhar al-Libi †[25]
Saeed Nasrallah †[26]
Abu Amnah †[27]
Abu Mou’az Al-Afghani  †[28]
Abu Nasser Qusayya  †[29]
Abu Hamza al-Masri  †[30]

Col. Mustafa Bakr[31]
(Army of Glory commander)
Capt. Hasan Haj Ali[32]
(Free Idlib Army and Mountain Hawks Brigade commander)
Mahmoud al-Dani †[33]
(Lions of Justice Regiment commander)
Hussein Abdel-Razzaq Bakkour †[34]
(Elite Army commander) Ibrahim Khaled al-Alloush  †[35]
Hani al-Alloush  †[36]
Yousef Khaled al-Yousef  †[37]		 Gen. [38]
Maj. Gen. Suheil al-Hassan[39]
Units involved

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Military of ISIL

  • Wilayat Hama
  • Wilayat Idlib

Tahrir al-Sham

  • Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar[40]
  • Imarat Kavkaz[41]
  • Jaysh Usrah[23]
  • Movement of Mujahideen of the Sunnis of Iran[22]
  • Soldiers of the Epics[8][better source needed]

Junud al-Sham[42][43]
Katiba Abd Ar-Rahman (Tarkhan's Jamaat)[42]
Syrian opposition Free Syrian Army[1]

  • Army of Glory[8][better source needed]
  • Army of Victory[14]
  • Free Idlib Army[14]
  • Central Division[44]
  • 1st Coastal Division[45]
  • Elite Army[8][better source needed]
  • Second Army[8][better source needed]
  • 1st Infantry Division[46]
  • 40th Brigade[46]

Syrian Army

  • 3rd Armoured Division[47]
    • Qalamoun Shield Forces infobox logo.png Qalamoun Shield Forces[47]
  • Republican Guard
  • Syrian 4th Armoured Division SSI.svg 4th Armoured Division[47]
  • 18th Armoured Division
    • 131st Armored Brigade[49]
  • Syrian commando.png Tiger Forces[39]

Emblem of the Syrian Arab Air Force.svg Air Force Intelligence Directorate[50]
National Defence Forces
 Syrian Arab Air Force[13]
Russian Armed Forces and affiliated paramilitaries

Iran IRGC

Strength

500+ (Oct. 2017)[52]
1,000 (Jan. 2018)[53]

200 (Feb. 2018)[32]		 Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
343 killed,[54][55][56] 200+ wounded, 410 captured[57][58] Syrian opposition 962 killed[59][60][61][62][63][64]
Turkey 1 killed
6 wounded[65]

453 killed[66][67][68]
35 captured[69]

1 killed[70]
223 civilians killed[71]
6,000+ civilians displaced[72]

The Northwestern Syria campaign (October 2017 – February 2018) was a large-scale military operation that initially started with an offensive conducted by ISIL forces on areas controlled by Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in the northern Hama Governorate. Subsequently, the Syrian Armed Forces launched their own offensive against HTS and other rebel groups in the area. The campaign took place at the intersection of the provinces of Hama, Idlib and Aleppo.

The offensive[]

ISIL and Army advances[]

Map showing the initial ISIL-HTS clashes

On 9 October 2017, ISIL attacked HTS in the northeastern Hama countryside near the southern administrative border of the Idlib Governorate.[13] ISIL members that attacked HTS allegedly sneaked into northern Hama from the area east of Salamiyah where they had been besieged by the Syrian Army.[citation needed] An opposition activist accused Syrian government forces of opening a 13-kilometer gap for ISIL militants to enter HTS territory.[13] ISIL captured more than a dozen villages,[citation needed] including Rahjan,[73] before HTS launched a counter-attack[citation needed] and recaptured five villages.[74] Over the next two weeks, fighting continued, with HTS managing to recapture 11 more villages,[75][73][76][77][78] including Rahjan.[citation needed]

Starting on 22 October, government forces conducted heavy air-strikes against HTS positions in the area and on 24 October, a ground assault was launched[79] from the direction of Ithriya. The Syrian Army took advantage of the fighting between HTS and ISIL,[80] quickly seizing several areas from the latter.[81] The ultimate aim of the government offensive was reported to be either the rebel-held Abu al-Duhur Military Airbase in the eastern part of the Idlib Governorate[80] or to simply push out HTS from that part of Hama's countryside into Idlib.[13] The same day as the Army's ground offensive started, an ISIL infiltration attempt against HTS lines was repelled.[13] As the Army offensive was developing, clashes continued between HTS and ISIL,[82] while it was reported that fighting between the Army and ISIL had stopped as of 26 October.[13] By 28 October, more than 350 air-strikes had been conducted[79] and the military managed to capture between six and ten villages from both HTS and ISIL,[83][84] with ISIL confined to just five villages.[13] During the night between 27 and 28 October, elements of the 3rd and 4th Division of the Syrian Army were approaching to Rahjan.[47]

Tahrir al-Sham fighters storm the ISIL-held village of Mushairfa, northeast of Hama, during the offensive on 31 October 2017. This footage was taken with a helmet camera.

On 30 October, heavy fighting was taking place as both the Syrian Army and ISIL were attempting to make advances against HTS, while HTS was attempting to advance against the other two.[85][86] Between 31 October and 1 November, the Army seized between five and seven villages from HTS.[87][88][89] Meanwhile, HTS reportedly seized two villages from ISIL,[90] forcing ISIL to retreat[91] to its three remaining villages in the area.[92]

On 2 November, the Army launched an assault on a different axis, attacking and capturing four villages, including the rebel stronghold of , in the southern countryside of Aleppo.[93] However, the following day, HTS counter-attacked and recaptured the territory they had lost, including Al-Rashadiyah.[94]

On 3 November, the Republican Guard and Qalamoun Shield stormed the HTS-held village of Al-Shakusiyah, eventually capturing it after hours of fighting, although they suffered heavy casualties as HTS and the FSA's Central Division used anti-tank missiles and artillery fire. The capture of the village brought the Syrian Army to the eastern outskirts of Rahjan.[95][96][97] Between 4 and 7 November, government forces reportedly captured five more villages.[98][99][100] On 8 November, HTS captured a hill overlooking the remaining three villages held by ISIL.[92]

On 13 November, government forces opened a new axis of advance and captured nine villages over the next two days.[101] Meanwhile, between 14 and 16 November, the village of Sarha changed hands three times before ultimately coming under Army control.[102][103][104] The military also seized the nearby village of Qasr Ali.[104]

Map of the military situation in Hama and southern Idlib Governorate as of 24 November: Areas held by the government (red), ISIL (black), HTS (white-gray), and other Syrian opposition forces (green).

On 21 November, under the cover of bad weather, ISIL forces attacked from their small pocket HTS positions and managed to capture four villages.[105] Concurrently, an ISIL suicide car bomber also blew himself up in Rahjan.[106] ISIL continued its advances the following day, capturing another nine villages.[107][108] Meanwhile, the Army launched its finale phase of the offensive,[109] advancing to positions just several hundred meters from Rahjan.[110] At the same time, the military also attacked and captured a village and a nearby hilltop in the southern countryside of Aleppo.[111] By this point, the military captured 29 villages in the Hama countryside during the offensive.[112]

On 24 November, ISIL advances continued with the capture of five more villages from HTS.[113] Four days later, an HTS counter-attack recaptured two villages from ISIL.[114] Meanwhile, after 28 days of back-and-forth fighting,[115] the Army captured a strategic hilltop in the southern countryside of Aleppo,[116] which lead to the capture of the nearby town of .[117] The Army then pushed out of Al-Rashadiyah,[118] capturing four more nearby villages from the rebels[119] and advancing to within 20 kilometers of the Abu al-Duhur Military Airbase.[120] Government forces also made further advances in the Hama countryside.[121] A subsequent rebel counter-attack recaptured two villages in the Aleppo countryside,[122][123] although it was later reported that the Army had once again seized one of them and was fighting for the second.[124]

Between 3 and 5 December, the Army made three attempts to capture Rahjan, each time managing to enter the town[125][126] before being pushed back.[127][128][129]

ISIL/Army Push into southeastern Idlib[]

The Syrian Air Force bombs a rebel-held village in Idlib Governorate.

Concurrently, on 3 December, the Syrian Army decided to circumvent the fortified HTS-held village of Balil, instead advancing to the east of it, resulting in the capture of three villages and localities in south-eastern Idlib Governorate, thus flanking Balil from south-west and north-east.[130] Meanwhile, on 5 December, ISIL started making new advances against the rebels, coming to within 10 km of Idlib Governorate's administrative boundaries[131] and capturing eight villages by the following day.[132][133] ISIL finally reached the Idlib Governorate on 9 December, overrunning three villages and a hilltop with little resistance.[134] Still, on 10 December, the rebels managed to push back ISIL forces out of Idlib.[54] Meanwhile, government forces made some notable progress in Idlib province as well, capturing half a dozen villages between 9 and 10 December.[135][136] After three days of intense fighting, ISIL fighters captured the village of Rasm Hammam from HTS on 12 December.[137] This stage of the fighting saw major displacement of civilians; the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported on 4 January that more than 60,000 people had fled their homes in Hama and Idlib between 1 November and 24 December.[138]

Fighting in southwestern Aleppo[]

Mid-December, much of the fighting between pro-government forces and rebels had moved to southwestern Aleppo, with the Syrian Army reportedly capturing four villages and two hills from HTS between 14 and 19 December.[139][140][141][142] An attempt by the Army to capture the village of (in the southeastern countryside of the Aleppo Governorate, according to reports) on 20 December was repelled, with HTS nearly encircling government troops. Six were killed and eight captured.[143]

Army push towards Abu al-Duhur[]

Map of SAA and ISIL advances against HTS up to 24 December

A renewed offensive by pro-government forces began in December, with its main target the rebel-held air base of Abu al-Duhur on the southeastern edge of Idlib and securing the road linking Damascus to Aleppo.[144][145] According to Reuters, government forces are assisted by Iranian-backed militias and Hezbollah in the offensive.[146] The government and its allies took the Idlib village of on 19 December, and conducted two airstrikes on a residential area in the town of Maar Shurin 40 km to the northwest on 20 December, reportedly killing at least 18 civilians including 10 children.[147][148]

Five villages were recaptured by HTS from ISIL during a counter-attack on 20 December, including , though not long afterwards ISIL seized Rasm Hammam once again.[149] During 26 December, the Syrian Army captured an Air Defense Battalion base (Zawr as Sus) and the hilltop of .[150] The same day, HTS shot down a Syrian Arab Air Forces L-39 Albatross using a Strela-2 MANPADS, capturing the pilot and later executing him.[151][152][153]

Intense Russian airstrikes were reported on 28–29 December, alongside heavy fighting concentrated in the key village of Abu Dali in southern Idlib. The Syrian Army reported a breakthrough against rebel forces on 28 December, capturing three villages, including Mushayrifah,[154] and later in the day entered Abu Dali, which they said had been abandoned by rebel fighters.[155] On 29 December, Hamadaniyeh, south-west of Abu Dali, was captured by the Syrian Army led by Tiger Forces.[156] After two failed attempts, a rebel stronghold with multiple entrenchments, Atshan, was captured on 30 December by the Tiger Forces. Later, together with 4th Division soldiers, they took the villages of Abu Omar, Al-Saloumyah and Al-Jadouyah.[157][158]

Umm Elkhalayel, Niha, Hawa, Ard az-Zurzur, Mashraft al-Jouaan, Dreibiyeh, Umm Sehrij were amongst a dozen of settlements captured by the Syrian Army between 1 and 3 January 2018.[159][160] This period also saw what an aid worker described as a "systematic" attack on hospitals in the region by pro-government forces, with eight hit between the end of December and the beginning of January,[145] allegedly including a major maternity hospital in Maarat al Numan, killing five people and injuring scores, according to pro-rebel Syrian American Medical Society.[161][162] According to UN figures, more than 70,000 people had fled their homes and moved further into Idlib in recent weeks.[145]

Rebel artillery bombards government forces holding the village of Khuwain in Idlib Governorate.

In the morning of 4 January 4 villages in Idlib where captured.[163] Fourteen more settlements were captured by Syrian Army on 5 January after clashes with fighters of Tahrir al-Sham and Jaysh al-Izza. During the same day ISIL militants captured two villages from other rebel groups.[164][165] The villages of Al-Nasiriya, Lweibdeh Sharki and Lweibdeh Shamaliyah were captured by the Syrian Army during night raid going on into the early hours of 6 January.[166] Further into 6 January, three rural settlements, including Sheikh Barakeh, were captured, in resulting the Syrian Army reaching the outskirts of the key crossroad town of Sinjar.[167] Two more villages were captured in the afternoon.[168] In the morning of 7 January, three additional villages were taken.[169] Numerous localities were taken throughout the day by the Syrian Army, including Sinjar itself.[170][171][172][173] The same day, a rocket attack targeted a Turkish military convoy in Idlib, the rocket landing 20–30 meters from the convoy in Darat Izza district,[174][144] and in the night Russian and government airstrikes killed at least 21 civilians in Idlib.[175] On 8 January, the Syrian Army captured 14 villages,[144][176] and dozens of airstrikes were reported by Idlib Civil Defense to have resulted in at least 14 deaths.[177][178] On 9 January, the Syrian Army captured 15 towns and villages including Rahjan.[179][180][181] On 10 January, the Syrian Army captured 25 towns and villages including Tell Silmo, Zafar Saghir, Zafar al-Kabir and Rasm Abed in Idlib governorate, thus reaching the outskirts of Abu al-Duhur Military Airbase. Within Hama governorate, the last HTS stronghold of Um Myal has been captured.[182][183][184][185] This left the HTS-controlled area in the countryside where Hama District borders Idlib and Aleppo governorates almost completely isolated from the larger rebel area centred in Idlib, and also still under pressure from the remaining ISIL pocket on its western edge.[186]

On 11 January, rebels, including the FSA-aligned Jaysh al-Izza, Army of Victory, Free Idlib Army, and the Elite Army, announced the formation of a new joint operations room and new offensive in northeastern Hama and southern Idlib, attacking the newly conquered government territory in southern Idlib from the west.[187][188][189] Hezbollah reported that the army and its allies were repelling a "fierce assault" by rebels.[189][186] Rebels told Reuters they had captured some 15 villages and seized 60 government fighters,[189] while SOHR reported that rebels recaptured 9 villages and two farms from the Syrian army.[190] The FSA fighters were reported to be newly equipped with Turkish armoured vehicles.[191][187] However, later in the day, the Syrian army recaptured all of the areas it lost, except for three villages.[192][193] These were also recaptured the following day.[194][195] On the same day, the Syrian army captured three villages east of Abu al-Duhur Airbase,[196] and conducted heavy air raids during the night, killing at least 11 civilians, including in Khan al-Sabil in southern Idlib.[197] By 14 January 2018, the Syrian army captured 115 villages after advancing through the southern countryside of Aleppo towards the Abu al-Duhur Airbase, leaving only one village separating them from their forces in the eastern countryside of Idlib.[198]

This period of fighting saw continued displacement of civilian residents in Idlib. According to aid agencies, more than 80,000 arrived in camps in the last week of December and first week of January – with the UN reporting the displaced figure had risen to 100,000 by the second week of January – while Turkish security forces caught a record number of nearly 10,000 attempting to cross the frontier in the last 10 days of December.[178][199]

With support from a range of heavy weaponry, Tahrir al-Sham and Turkistan Islamic Party fighters launched a major assault against government forces on 14 January, resulting in capture of 21 villages throughout the day.[200] Atshan was recaptured by the Syrian army on 15 January,[201][202] with Abu Omar and Al-Hawash recaptured earlier.[203][204] Tiger Forces conducted a night raid into the early hours of 16 January within the villages of Tell Maraq, Umm Elkhalayel, , and Khwein al-Kabir; heavy clashes soon ensued, and the Syrian army said that soldiers in Khwein al-Kabir came under chlorine gas attack, resulting in them having to seek medical attention.[205][206] On the same day, the Syrian Army said it had acquired partial fire control from the north over Abu al-Duhur Airbase after capture of 3 settlements and a hill.[207][208] Meanwhile, the Syrian army captured another 5 villages in the southwest countryside of Aleppo, resulting in flanking of Abu al-Duhur airbase from two sides as it neared encirclement.[209][210][211] Settlements of and have been captured in southwestern Aleppo countryside by the Syrian army and allied paramilitaries, resulting in them inching closer towards connecting with units in eastern Idlib Governorate.[212]

The changing fronts of the push towards Abu al-Duhur. From 27 Dec – 13 Feb

With rebel forces either defecting to ISIL or abandoning their positions,[citation needed] the rebel salient on the edges of Idlib, Aleppo and Hama governorates, shrunk rapidly, with ISIL taking control over some 30 settlements across the area.[213][214] By 19 January, rebel forces lost their foothold in northeastern Hama to ISIL.[215]

Syrian state TV, Hezbollah and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the Syrian Army it had entered the Abu al-Duhur airbase early on 20 January,[216][217] and also captured 11 villages that resulted in the encirclement of ISIL fighters within a pocket of over a thousand km2.[218][19][219] Within a few hours, they reported the airbase was secured.[220] However, this was denied by rebels and HTS.[217] On the same day, the Syrian army reported it had captured another 10 villages in the southwest countryside of Aleppo,[221] and encircled ISIS in huge pocket spanning Hama, Idlib and Aleppo governorates.[19] On 21 January, the Syrian army announced they had won back the airbase.[217] Other local sources reported that the base was captured on 22 January.[222]

Also on 21 January, Syrian Army and allied paramilitary forces also captured two villages from ISIL in northeastern Hama, and five more settlements from opposition groups in eastern Idlib and southwestern Aleppo provinces.[223][224][225] Later in the day, they recaptured two villages in the southeast countryside of Idlib that were lost previously to the rebel's counter-offensive.[226]

the Syrian army captured the town of Abu al-Duhur after two days of clashes with Tahrir al-Sham and Turkistan Islamic Party fighters.[227] Elsewhere during the day, the Syrian army captured 7 villages north of the Abu al-Duhur airbase from the rebels,[228] as well as 3 villages from ISIL in northeastern Hama.[229] Tahrir al-Sham detonated a car bomb upon a squad of Syrian Army personnel, resulting in the deaths of 5 soldiers on 23 January.[230] During the same day, a settlement to the west of Abu al-Duhur was captured by the Syrian Army after hours of clashes.[231] On 29 January, the Syrian army captured the whole city of Abu al-Duhur, after rebels recaptured parts of it previously and three nearby villages and finally secured the perimeter of Abu al-Duhur Airbase.[232][233][234]

Further Army advances and collapse of ISIL pocket[]

Map of ISIL and SAA advances up to 31 January 2018

During the morning of 31 January, the Syrian Army reported that it captured 7 villages and an air defense base in eastern Idlib governorate, and 9 more settlements, several hills and swamp later in the day.[235][236][237] On the same day, the Syrian Army captured 3 villages in the southwest countryside of Aleppo.[238][239] On the next day, the Syrian army captured 3 villages from ISIL in north east Hama,[240] 7 villages in the southwest countryside of Aleppo [241][242][243] and one village in the southeastern countryside of Idlib.[244] On 2 February, the Syrian Army captured 7 villages in the southwest countryside of Aleppo and the one village in southeastern countryside of the Idlib.[245][246][247]

On 2 February, it was confirmed that key assault units of the elite Tiger Forces Division which had led the Syrian Army's eastern Idlib offensive against the rebels were to soon end their operation in the region and depart to another front.[248]

On 3 February 2018, unidentified militants (claimed by both HTS and the Army of Victory) shot down a Russian Sukhoi Su-25 jet over the province of Idlib, near the town of Maarrat al-Nu'man (57 km north of the city of Hama), presumably by means of a man-portable air-defence system.[70] The pilot, Major Roman Filipov, was killed after he ejected and exchanged gunfire with the militants on the ground, near the ″terrorists-held village of Tell-Debes″, according to the Russian defence ministry.[249][250] In response to the continuing offensive on the East Idlib front, eleven rebel groups announced the formation of a Unified Operations Room to counter the Syrian Army advance, including Ahrar al-Sham, Faylaq al-Sham, and Nour al-Din al-Zenki.[251]

On 4 February 2018, the Syrian army captured 4 villages from ISIL in north east Hama.[252] On the next day, the Syrian army captured 15 villages and one hill from ISIL in north east Hama and in southeast Aleppo.[253][254][255] Meanwhile, the Russian forces stationed in Syria were reported to have intensified their air raids in the region in retaliation for the shootdown of the Su-25.[256][257]

On 7 February, it was reported that over the previous 48 hours, the Syrian Army had captured some 76 towns and villages from the Islamic State.[258] With this advance, the Syrian Army recaptured 80% of the ISIL pocket and only 250 km2 remained under control of ISIL in a small pocket.[259] On 9 February, the Syrian Army captured the entirety of the pocket, including Suruj.[20][260][261] The Syrian government announced an end to its operations in Idlib and Aleppo on 10 February.[262]

However, hundreds of ISIL fighters broke out of encirclement and escaped into rebel-held territory, capturing 3 villages in Idlib Governorate.[20][261] Pro-opposition sources said that government forces had opened up a corridor to allow the ISIL fighters to enter Idlib.[263] On 13 February, the "Repel the Invaders" Idlib rebel alliance announced that the ISIL pocket in the region had been dissolved, after some 250 ISIL fighters with their families surrendered to rebels in the village of Khwein al-Kabirs.[264][14]

Aftermath[]

Main articles: Syrian Liberation Front–Tahrir al-Sham conflict and 2018 Idlib demilitarization

As the ISIL fighters were defeated, fighting continued between pro-government and rebel forces. On 5 February, pro-government forces bombed Idlib city, Maarat al-Numan, Saraqeb and several other towns and cities across central and eastern Idlib, and there were allegations of chemical weapon use in some of these, while rebels claimed to have recaptured territory near Saraqeb.[265] Following the formation of the "Repel the Invaders" operations room, involving seven rebel groups Ahrar al-Sham,[14] Turkish forces deployed military personnel in monitoring outposts close to the front line: in Salwa, north of Idlib; Qalat Samaan and Sheikh Aqeel, west of Aleppo; al-Iss, south of Aleppo; al-Tuqan, a southern suburb of Idlib city; and al-Sirman, near Maarat al-Numan.[266] Anti-HTS Islamist rebel factions Nour al-Din al-Zenki and Ahrar al-Sham merged into the Syrian Liberation Front on 18 February,[266] whose fighting with HTS intensified. Discussions between Russian and Turkey and stronger backing from Turkey for anti-HTS rebels led to a degree of cooling of the conflict,[266][267] although pro-government air attacks on rebel territories continued. A new government offensive was increasingly anticipated in through the summer, but in September a demilitarization agreement was signed between Russia and Turkey.

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  28. ^ "Syrian Army kills top Afghani commander of HTS in northern Hama". Al-Masdar. 27 November 2017.
  29. ^ "Another high ranking jihadist commander killed in southern Idlib". Al-Masdar. 17 January 2018.
  30. ^ "Breaking: Syrian Army terminates high-ranking Al-Qaeda religious leader, commander, jihadist trainer in Idlib". Almasdarnews.com. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  31. ^ "A leader in the "Army of Glory" speaks to Orient about the causes and consequences of the Battle of Zallaqat". Orient News. 19 December 2017.
  32. ^ Jump up to: a b "Islamic State fighters move to Syria's Idlib, clash with factions: report". Reuters. 9 February 2018.
  33. ^ "Another high ranking Islamist commander killed in Idlib". Al Masdar News. 16 January 2018.
  34. ^ "Free Syrian Army commander killed in southeast Idlib". Al Masdar News. 17 January 2018.
  35. ^ "Syrian Army guts jihadist ranks, killing high-end rebel commander in ongoing Hama offensive". Al-Masdar. 27 December 2017.
  36. ^ "2 jihadist commanders, both brothers, killed on the same day in battles with the Syrian Army". Al-Masdar. 27 December 2017.
  37. ^ "Syrian Army kills one of the most important rebel commanders". Al-Masdar. 3 January 2018.
  38. ^ "Syrian military command announces Idlib campaign to begin soon". Al-Masdar. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  39. ^ Jump up to: a b Leith Fadel (25 December 2017). "Tiger forces participate in Hama offensive". Al-Masdar. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  40. ^ Joanna Paraszuk (27 November 2017). "Nogai fighter in Liwa Muhajireen wal Ansar killed in Hama Province". From Chechnya to Syria. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  41. ^ Joanna Paraszuk (9 October 2017). "Imarat Kavkaz fighter Askhat Koybaev killed in Abu Dali, Hama". From Chechnya to Syria. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  42. ^ Jump up to: a b Joanna Paraszczuk (29 January 2018). "Tarkhan's jamaat (Katiba abd ar-Rahman) fighting in Hama alongside Muslim Shishani". From Chechnya to Syria. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  43. ^ Leith Aboufadel (26 January 2018). "Al-Qaeda linked Chechen group and infamous commander head to southern Idlib to fight Syrian Army". al-Masdar News. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  44. ^ "Akhbar al-Youm: "The Central Band" of "Al-Dharar al-Shamiya": Clashes erupt in the northern countryside of Hama .. Support for the "mum" is still pending". Al-Dorar al-Shamia. 31 October 2017.
  45. ^ "Militias of the regime dominate civilians in the east and battles of continuous protections". Baladi News Network. 29 November 2017. Archived from the original on 8 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  46. ^ Jump up to: a b Mohammad Alkhatib; Abdulkafi Alhamdo (3 February 2018). "Syrian Opposition Forms A New Military Operation To Stop Syrian Regime East Idlib". Qasioun News. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  47. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Syrian Army approaches Al-Qaeda stronghold near Aleppo-Hama border". Al-Masdar. 28 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  48. ^ "Syrian Army launches big assault just north of Abu Dhuhour Airport". Al-Masdar News. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  49. ^ "Syrian War Daily – 6th of December 2017". Syrian War Daily. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
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  51. ^ "Еще один доброволец из Томской области погиб в Сирии". 15 January 2018.
  52. ^ 20 يوماً من المعارك تخلف أكثر من 300 قتيل من هيئة تحرير الشام وتنظيم "الدولة الإسلامية" في ريف حماة الشمالي الشرقي, SOHR
  53. ^ Andrew Illingworth (6 December 2017). "8,000 to 11,000 ISIS militants still present across Syria – estimates". al-Masdar News. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  54. ^ Jump up to: a b قتال عنيف يتجدد في شمال شرق حماة بين تحرير الشام وتنظيم "الدولة الإسلامية" في محاولة جديدة من الأخير للتقدم, SOHR
  55. ^ نحو 10 قتلى من تنظيم "الدولة الإسلامية" خلال معارك سيطرة متبادلة شهدتها تلال بريف حماة الشمالي الشرقي بينه وبين هيئة تحرير الشام, SOHR
  56. ^ "In a renewed effort to expand its control and after the death of about 50 of its members, ISIS attacks areas controlled by Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham and the factions in the countryside of Idlib". 11 February 2018.
  57. ^ "Al-Qaeda linked rebels recapture more than 30 towns from ISIS in east Hama". Al-Masdar. 25 October 2017.
  58. ^ بعد 4 أيام من وصولهم لريف إدلب…المئات من عناصر تنظيم "الدولة الإسلامية" وجرحاه وعوائلهم يسلمون أنفسهم لتحرير الشام والفصائل العاملة في المحافظة
  59. ^ "During about 48 hours in Hama and Idlib … about 500 raids Russian and Syrian – targeting to about 40 area – more than 130 casualties – exchange of control clashes". SOHR. 21 September 2017.
  60. ^ "خلال شهر من العمليات العسكرية في إدلب وحماة وحلب…نحو 400 قرية خسرتها تحرير الشام والفصائل…أكثر من 700 استشهدوا وقضوا وقتلوا بينهم حوالي 140 مدني" (in Arabic). 26 January 2018.
  61. ^ "10 days of bombing by warplanes of Russian and the regime kill and injure about 570 civilians in about 1400 raids on the provinces of Idlib and Hama". SOHR. 29 September 2017.
  62. ^ "Two months of the clashes of Hama and Idlib countryside…the regime forces impose their control over about 40 villages and areas…more than 2500 raids…about 350 members and fighters were killed". SOHR. 22 December 2017.
  63. ^ "At least 44 fighters and members and about 20 civilians were killed in the violent clashes, intensive aerial bombardment and artillery shelling in the countryside of Idlib and Hama". SOHR. 28 December 2017.
  64. ^ "After 28 months of losing it by a sudden and violent attack, the regime forces and their allies almost control Abu Dhuhur air base". SOHR. 20 January 2020.
  65. ^ "Syrie: un soldat turc tué à Idleb" [Syria: Turkish soldier killed in Idleb] (in French). 6 February 2018.
  66. ^ "During about 48 hours in Hama and Idlib … about 500 raids Russian and Syrian – targeting to about 40 area – more than 130 casualties – exchange of control clashes". SOHR. 21 September 2017.
  67. ^ "Two months of the clashes of Hama and Idlib countryside…the regime forces impose their control over about 40 villages and areas…more than 2500 raids…about 350 members and fighters were killed". SOHR. 22 December 2017.
  68. ^ "At least 44 fighters and members and about 20 civilians were killed in the violent clashes, intensive aerial bombardment and artillery shelling in the countryside of Idlib and Hama". SOHR. 28 December 2017.
  69. ^ قوات النظام تثبت مع حلفائها سيطرتها في مطار أبو الضهور العسكري وقرى بمحيطها وتهاجم بلدة في غرب المطار وتتقدم في قرى ضمن الجيب المحاصر
  70. ^ Jump up to: a b "Syria rebels shoot down Russian jet, capture pilot – monitor". Deutsche Welle. 3 February 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  71. ^ "About 225 martyrs and injured including 100 children and women were killed in Idlib in 6 consecutive weeks of heavy shelling of warplanes and helicopters and the regime forces". SOHR. 5 February 2018.
  72. ^ Avery Edelman; Mohammad Abdulssattar Ibrahim; Ahmad Aljabale (20 December 2017). "Government forces advance inside rebel-held Idlib province". SYRIA:Direct. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  73. ^ Jump up to: a b "Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham manages to achieve further advancement restoring new villages in the north-eastern countryside of Hama". SOHR. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  74. ^ Editorial, Reuters (9 October 2017). "Nusra Front, Islamic State clash in Syria's Hama province". Reuters. Archived from the original on 28 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  75. ^ "The fighting between the organization and Tahrir Al-Sham enters its second day and the latest loses at least 14 of its fighters and fails to recover all areas of what it lost". SOHR. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  76. ^ "Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham achieves further advancement in the north-east of Hama and recovers new areas from ISIS". SOHR. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  77. ^ "Violent and renewed clashes between Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham and ISIS in the eastern countryside of Hama". SOHR. 20 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  78. ^ "Violent clashes in the northeastern countryside of Hama and Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham advance in the area and aerial bombardment targets al-Hamra and south of Idlib". SOHR. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  79. ^ Jump up to: a b "Violent fighting and fierce clashes at the hometown of the Defense Minister in Al-Assad's regime…more that 350 air strikes…and more than 75 were killed and tens were injured". SOHR. 28 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  80. ^ Jump up to: a b "Breaking: Syrian Army bursts into northeast Hama with the aim of capturing Idlib airbase". Al-Masdar. 24 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  81. ^ "After tens of air strikes…the regime forces penetrate the area of the new birth of the "Islamic State" organization in the east of Hama and clash against Tahrir Al-Sham". SOHR. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  82. ^ "Continued airstrikes and an attack by ISIS leave human losses in its ranks and in the ranks of Hayaat Tahrir Al-Sham in the northeastern countryside of Hama". SOHR. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  83. ^ "About 65 fighters and members were killed in 6 consecutive days of Hama countryside battle between Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham and the regime". SOHR. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  84. ^ "Watch the Syrian Army advance on Al-Qaeda's east Hama stronghold". Al-Masdar. 28 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  85. ^ "The countryside of Salamiyah and northeast of Hama witness clashes between Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham and the regime forces". SOHR. 30 October 2017.
  86. ^ "The northern countryside of Hama witnesses constant clashes between the "Islamic State" organization and Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham, both parties seek to advancement at the expense of each other". SOHR. 30 October 2017.
  87. ^ "Clashes continue in the northeastern countryside of Hama and counterattacks between the regime forces and Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham and the factions". SOHR. 1 November 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  88. ^ "Breaking: Syrian Army offensive in northeast Hama turns into an avalanche of big advances". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  89. ^ "MAP: Syrian Army snatches vast areas of northeast Hama as Nusra militants begin headlong retreat". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 1 November 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  90. ^ "SYRIA INTELLIGENCE REPORT" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  91. ^ "ISIS Recedes To 2 Villages Eastern Hama".
  92. ^ Jump up to: a b "In pictures: Al-Qaeda militants push deep inside last ISIS pocket in northeast Hama". Al-Masdar. 8 November 2017.
  93. ^ "BREAKING: Syrian Army kicks off huge offensive in south Aleppo: four villages liberated". Al-Masdar. 2 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  94. ^ "Jihadist rebels recapture southern Aleppo town after successful counter-assault". Al-Masdar. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  95. ^ "Syrian Army seizes strategic town near Al-Qaeda stronghold in northeast Hama". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  96. ^ "VIDEO: Jihadist rebels hit three Syrian Army vehicles with anti-tank missiles in rural Hama". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  97. ^ "The regime forces advance in the northeastern countryside of Hama". SOHR. 4 November 2017.
  98. ^ "Syrian Army expels Al-Qaeda from one more town in northeast Hama". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  99. ^ "Syrian Army converges on Islamist militants in northeast Hama CS". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 5 November 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  100. ^ "Syrian Army keeps rolling in northeast Hama, reaches southern outskirts of Al-Qaeda stronghold". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 6 November 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  101. ^ "Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham and the factions carry out a counter attack under a cover of intensive shelling to restore the areas they lost in the north-east of Hama and the regime forces prepare to advance in other areas". SOHR. 15 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  102. ^ "Syrian Army keeps rolling near Idlib border as HTS loses another town". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  103. ^ "Jihadist rebels strike back in northeast Hama". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 15 November 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  104. ^ Jump up to: a b "Syrian Army closes in on Idlib province after major advance in northeast Hama – map". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  105. ^ "The "Islamic State" organization exploits the poor conditions and advance in 4 villages at the expense of Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham northeast of Hama". SOHR. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  106. ^ "Aerial shelling target areas in Hama countryside and violent clashes and car bombing by Tahrir Al-Sham in the area". SOHR. 20 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  107. ^ "ISIS completely overwhelms HTS in northeast Hama, 10+ towns captured – map". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  108. ^ "The "Islamic State" organization expands its controlled area at the expense of Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham and advances in 10 villages northeast of Hama". SOHR. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  109. ^ "Breaking: Syrian Army begins final phase of northeast Hama offensive". Al-Masdar. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  110. ^ "Ongoing clashes near the hometown of the defense minister of the regime and the regime forces try to control it and advance in the area". SOHR. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  111. ^ "Syrian Army makes first major push towards Aleppo axis from northeast Hama". Al-Masdar. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  112. ^ "Cautious calm continues for about 24 hours in Hama countryside…after 6 weeks of fierce clashes, more than 1220 raids, the death of 270 members and fighters, and the displacement of about 50000 citizens". SOHR. 2 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  113. ^ "ISIS seizes six more villages in northeast Hama, advances towards border with Idlib". Al-Masdar. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  114. ^ "Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham violently attacks areas to which ISIS advanced and regains two villages; about 20 fighters of both parties were killed in the clashes". SOHR. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  115. ^ "After 28 days of hit-and-run clashes in the southern countryside of Aleppo…Jaysh Osama of Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham executes "a gunman loyal to the regime forces" after being captured". SOHR. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  116. ^ "Syrian Army advances towards strategic base in eastern Idlib – video". Al-Masdar. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  117. ^ "Syrian Army wrestles control of jihadist stronghold in southern Aleppo". Al-Masdar. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  118. ^ "Syrian Army scores huge advance in southern Aleppo as the pressure mounts on HTS". Al-Masdar. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  119. ^ "The regime forces and their allied continue their violent attack and advance in 5 villages in the southern countryside of Aleppo backed by a cover of intensive shelling". SOHR. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  120. ^ "Syrian Army within 20km of strategic airbase in east Idlib – map". Al-Masdar. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  121. ^ "Air strikes renew on Hama countryside and violent fighting breaks out between the faction and Tahrir Al-Sham against the regime forces". SOHR. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  122. ^ "Jihadists recover several areas they lost in southern Aleppo". Al-Masdar. 30 November 2017.
  123. ^ "The factions and Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham advance again in areas they lost at the southern countryside of Aleppo". SOHR. 29 November 2017.
  124. ^ "Syrian Army recaptures town in southern Aleppo after swift counter-assault". Al-Masdar. 30 November 2017.
  125. ^ "Syrian Army takes steps to kick jihadist rebels out of northeast Hama". Al-Masdar. 3 December 2017.
  126. ^ "Syrian Army storms strategic town in northeast Hama". Al-Masdar. 5 December 2017.
  127. ^ "Breaking: Syrian Army enters key jihadist stronghold in northeast Hama". Al-Masdar. 4 December 2017.
  128. ^ "Despite the intense shelling… the factions re-control the sites they lost in the hometown of regime's Defense minister". SOHR. 3 December 2017.
  129. ^ "Jihadists hold tough at northeast Hama stronghold, Syrian Army advance halted". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  130. ^ "Government forces blitz through Idlib's southern countryside in major breakthrough". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 3 December 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  131. ^ "ISIS advances towards Idlib, seizes another town in northeast Hama from rival jihadists". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  132. ^ "ISIS emerges out of thin air in Idlib as rebels concede territory". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  133. ^ "The "Islamic State" organization exploits the bad weather and advances in 8 villages in the northeastern countryside of Hama at the expense of Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham". SOHR. 6 December 2017.
  134. ^ "Breaking: ISIS forces enter Idlib, Al-Qaeda's nightmare comes true". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 9 December 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
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  138. ^ Syria: Flash update on recent events, UNHCR, 4 January 2018
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  140. ^ "Syrian Army breaks through rebel defenses in south Aleppo in major advance". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 16 December 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  141. ^ "Breaking: Syrian Army overwhelms jihadist forces to capture new town in Idlib". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
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  143. ^ "Syrian Army's offensive in southeast Aleppo takes disastrous turn". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 20 December 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  144. ^ Jump up to: a b c Amberin Zaman Turkish forces take fire in Idlib, Al-Monitor, 8 January 2018
  145. ^ Jump up to: a b c Kareem Shaheen Syrian forces advance on country's last rebel-held province, Guardian, 9 January 2018
  146. ^ Syrian rebels declare counter attack in Idlib province, Reuters, 11 January 2018
  147. ^ Government forces advance inside rebel-held Idlib province, Syria:Direct, 20 December 2017
  148. ^ Airstrikes kill dozens of civilians in residential town in Syria, Al-Araby, 20 December 2018
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  150. ^ "Syrian Army overwhelms jihadists to capture several areas in southeast Idlib". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 26 December 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  151. ^ "Footage: Al-Nusra shoots down Syrian air force warplane with guided missile". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 27 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  152. ^ "Graphic + 18: Islamist rebels execute captured Syrian pilot". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 26 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  153. ^ AP, Turkey: Syrian troops attack moderate forces, not militants Archived 9 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine, McClatchys, 9 January 2018
  154. ^ "Syrian Army solidifies presence in Idlib after recent advance: map". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 28 December 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  155. ^ "Syrian Army captures strategic town in southeast Idlib". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 29 December 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  156. ^ "Unstoppable: Elite Syrian forces liberate yet another key town in Idlib en-route to Khan Sheikhoun". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 29 December 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  157. ^ "Breaking: Elite Syrian forces capture jihadist stronghold along Hama-Idlib border". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 30 December 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  158. ^ "Syrian Army swallows up another string of towns, villages in ongoing Hama, Idlib annihilation offensive". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 30 December 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  159. ^ "Jihadists suffer major setbacks as Syrian Army troops advance in southeast Idlib – map". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 3 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  160. ^ "Syrian Army's Idlib annihilation offensive once again in full swing as yet another 2 towns fall to elite forces". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 2 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  161. ^ Syrian government defends Idlib campaign, condemns France, Reuters, 11 January 2018
  162. ^ Syria war: Hospitals being targeted, aid workers say, BBC, 6 January 2018
  163. ^ "Breaking: Elite Syrian Army forces steamroll ahead in Idlib capturing 4 towns in as many hours". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  164. ^ "Syrian Army captures 14 towns in southern Idlib over 24 hours – map". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  165. ^ "Breaking: ISIS starts new offensive against Nusra capturing two towns from rival jihadists in northeast Hama". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  166. ^ "Breaking: Brilliant night assault operation sees elite Syrian troops liberate another 3 towns in south Idlib". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 6 January 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  167. ^ "Breaking: Elite Syrian forces steamroll through three towns to arrive at gates of major jihadist stronghold in Idlib". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 6 January 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  168. ^ "Breaking: Syrian Army inches closer to strategic base in Idlib, captures two towns". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 6 January 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  169. ^ "Syrian Army keeps rolling in southern Idlib, new territories captured". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 7 January 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  170. ^ Activist: Car bomb kills 23 in Syrian rebel-held Idlib city, AP, 7 January 2018
  171. ^ "Breaking: Syrian Army reportedly captures strategic town in southern Idlib". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 7 January 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  172. ^ "Jihadist corridor to Idlib breaks wide open as Syrian troops press forward to strategic airbase". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 7 January 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  173. ^ "Breaking: Elite Syrian troops take 9 more towns following liberation of Sinjar in southeast Idlib". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 7 January 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  174. ^ "Rocket attack targets Turkish convoy in Syria's Idlib". World Bulletin. 7 January 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  175. ^ Fierce Syria airstrikes kill at least 21 civilians in Idlib, Al-Araby, 8 January 2018
  176. ^ World Digest: 8 Jan. 2018, Washington Post
  177. ^ Syrian army advances deeper into Idlib rebel heartland as thousands flee, Syria:Direct, 8 January 2018
  178. ^ Jump up to: a b Syrian government escalates bombing campaign over last-remaining rebel strongholds, Telegraph 8 January 2018
  179. ^ "Breaking: 12 towns fall to the Syrian Army in east Idlib as elite forces aim to encircle key city and airbase". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 9 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  180. ^ "Breaking: Syrian Army seizes highly-prized jihadist-held town in northeast Hama amid new offensive". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 9 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  181. ^ "تقدّم متسارع ومتزامن للأسد وداعش شرق حماة، والتفاصيل؟!". Step News (in Arabic). 9 January 2018. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  182. ^ "With the accelerated withdrawals…the regime forces and their allies take the control of 16 villages and reach the outskirts of Abu Al-Duhur Military Airbase and hundreds of meters separate them from its walls". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 9 January 2018.
  183. ^ "Breaking: Final assault by elite Syrian forces sees them reach gates of Abu Duhur airbase in east Idlib". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 10 January 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  184. ^ "HTS kicked out of northeast Hama after losing last stronghold to the Syrian Army". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  185. ^ "After controlling about 25 villages today, the regime forces and their allies control Abu Al-Duhur airbase by firearm". SOHR. 10 January 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  186. ^ Jump up to: a b Opposition fighters wage counter-offensive in Idlib to drive back Syrian army advances, Syria:Direct, 11 January 2018
  187. ^ Jump up to: a b Syria opposition launch new offensive against regime in Idlib, Middle East Monitor, 12 January 2018
  188. ^ Idlib’s Battle of Attrition between Bets and Field Reality, Enab Baladi, 16 January 2018
  189. ^ Jump up to: a b c Syrian rebels declare counter attack in Idlib province, Reuters, 11 January 2018
  190. ^ "الفصائل المقاتلة والإسلامية تواصل هجومها وتوسع سيطرتها لـ 12 قرية ومنطقة من ريف إدلب الجنوبي الشرقي وتبدأ تمهيداً على بلدة أبو دالي المهمة". SOHR. 11 January 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  191. ^ Free Syrian Army Gets Involved in Idlib Battle, Sparking Turkish-Russian Tensions, Asharq AL-awsat, 12 January 2018
  192. ^ "Breaking: Syrian Army retakes 4 lost towns in southeast Idlib as Al-Qaeda offensive stumbles". AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 11 January 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
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Coordinates: 34°33′36″N 38°16′02″E / 34.5600°N 38.2672°E / 34.5600; 38.2672

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