Syria insurgents launch offensive
U.s.-led coalition pulls out of a southern base
BEIRUT — Insurgents led by an al-qaida-linked group launched one of their widest offensives yet Tuesday against Syrian pro-government forces, which responded with heavy airstrikes that reportedly targeted hospitals and first responders.
Pro-government media said the airstrikes targeted insurgent supply lines from the northwestern Idlib province, a stronghold of the al-qaida-linked group.
Opposition activists and rescue workers said at least two civilians were killed. They said two hospitals and two centers used by volunteer first responders known as the White Helmets were rendered non-operational.
The offensive tests a newly announced “de-escalation zone” in Idlib, the latest of four such areas declared by Russia and Iran, which support the Syrian government, and Turkey, which backs the rebels.
The “de-escalation zones” have freed up Syrian troops and allied militias to battle the Islamic State group in the eastern Deir el-zour province and other areas.
The Syrian government-affiliated Central Military Media outlet acknowledged the insurgent offensive just south of Idlib and said forces responded with intensive airstrikes and shelling, killing a number of insurgents.
Rami Abdurrahman, the head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said airstrikes pummeled the front line but also targeted southern Idlib, hitting at least four medical centers.
The opposition-run Qasioun News Agency said two hospitals were knocked out of service because of the strikes.
Abdurrahman said the offensive is the widest so far targeting the government-held city of Hama. He said thousands of fighters, led by the al-qaida-linked Hayat Tahrir al-sham and its allies, including Chinese fighters of the Turkistan Islamic Party, took part in the offensive.
Also on Tuesday, the U.s.-led coalition against IS confirmed that it had closed one of its two bases in southern Syria. Coalition spokesman Col. Ryan Dillon said that after the closure of the Zakaf base, coalition and allied Syrian forces are now only operating out of the larger Tanf base near the Jordanian and Iraqi borders.