Syrian rebels forced out of key stronghold by government troops
● Assad offensive intensifies but insurgents vow to keep up resistance
The main insurgent group in the Syrian province of Idlib pulled out of a key rebel town as government forces advanced in the area yesterday amid intense bombardment and airstrikes.
As the militants withdrew, government troops moved into northern and western neighbourhoods of Khan Sheikhoun, marking a significant gain for president Bashar Assad’s forces as they try to chip away at territory controlled by the opposition in Idlib.
The north-western province, dominated by an al-qaeda-linked faction, is the final major rebel-held bastion in Syria.
Hayat Tahrir al-sham, Syria’s main al-qaeda-linked faction, said in a statement that its fighters carried out “a redeployment”, withdrawing to areas south of the town of Khan Sheikhoun. From there, they would continue to defend the territory, the group said.
Syrian state TV said government troops had expanded their presence in the Khan Sheikhoun area, without giving further details.
“The victories that were achieved show the determination of the people and the army to strike terrorists, until all parts of Syria are liberated,” President Assad said.
The withdrawal is a blow to the opposition. Syrian government forces have been on the offensive in Idlib and northern parts of Hama province since 30 April, forcing nearly half a million people to flee to safer areas further north.
The fighting also killed more than 2,000 people, including hundreds of civilians.
After months of intense bombardment, the insurgents’ defences appear to be crumbling as they are now losing ground at a much faster pace compared with the first three months of the government push.
In the long-running Syrian civil war, now in its ninth year, the north-western region – where Turkish, Russian, US and Iranian interests are at stake – has taken centre stage in the conflict.
The latest government gains come as Nato allies Turkey and the US are discussing setting up a buffer inside Syria – one that Ankara wants to push Syrian Kurdish fighters it considers terrorists further to the east.
There has been speculation Russia and Turkey, which back rival sides in Syria’s conflict, have reached an agreement that would allow the Syrian army to retake parts of Idlib and reopen a highway that links the capital Damascus with the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest.
Khan Sheikhoun, which had been held by militants since 2014, sits on that highway.
After the capture of Khan Sheikhoun, Syrian troops are likely now to move north toward Maaret al-numan, another town on the highway that has been subjected to intense airstrikes over recent days. Opposition activists also intense bombardment on the rebel-held town of Jisr al-shughour on the south-western edge of Idlib yesterday.
Backed by Russian air power, Syrian troops were able to enter parts of Khan Sheikhoun overnight, according to opposition activists, and are now clearing the area abandoned by militants of explosives and booby traps.
“After fierce bombardment by the criminal enemy that avoids direct confrontation with holy warriors by implementing a scorched earth policy, our fighters have redeployed south of Khan Sheihoun,” the statement said.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for human rights said the al-qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-sham and other insurgent groups withdrew from Khan Sheikhoun as well as the towns and villages south of the town.
Khan Sheikhoun was home to about one million people, nearly 700,000 of them displaced by fighting in other parts of the country, before the government offensive began in April.