Syrian government forces seized ground from insurgents in northwestern Syria on ...
BEIRUT - Syrian government forces seized ground from insurgents in northwestern Syria on Thursday, sources on both sides said, building on advances since the military declared an end to a brief ceasefire earlier this week.
The Russian-backed army operations resumed on Monday after the government accused neighboring Turkey, which backs some rebel groups in the area, of not abiding by commitments in the truce. The army’s capture of al-Sakhr in northern Hama province on Thursday followed the taking of two villages on Wednesday.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the eight-year-old conflict, said the advances by Assad’s side over the last two days were its most significant since June, noting that the army was closing in on three rebel-held towns. “All this is happening at the doorstep of Turkey, so there is a threat for Turkey, a direct impact with massive displacement of people toward the north, heading toward Turkey and of course a threat for the rest of Europe,” said Panos Moumtzis, U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Syria’s crisis.
Though Turkey-backed rebel factions operate in Idlib province in the northwest, the dominant force there is the jihadist Tahrir al-Sham group, formerly known as the Nusra Front.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Turkey says U.S. getting closer to its views on north Syria safe zoneTurkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said the United States is shifting closer t...
Read more »
US, Turkey agree on Syria safe zone for refugees; new report warns of ISIS resurgenceThe U.S. and Turkey reached an agreement on Wednesday to create a safe zone in northeastern Syria in order to secure the territory once held by the Islamic State.
Read more »
Daesh car bomb kills 5 in northeast Syria - monitorThe explosive-rigged vehicle detonated in Al Qahtaniya, a town in Hasakeh province, says the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor.
Read more »
Turkish, US officials agree on Syria ‘peace corridor’After three days of talks in Ankara, Turkey's Defence Ministry says that the two countries agreed to establish a joint operation centre to coordinate and manage the planned safe zone in northern Syria.
Read more »
Turkey says meeting with US on Syria 'positive''We witnessed with satisfaction that our partners grew closer to our position [in northeastern Syria]. The [Turkey-US] meetings were positive and quite constructive' Turkey’s Defence Minister Hulusi Akar
Read more »
Pentagon report says ISIS is 're-surging in Syria'Less than five months after President Donald Trump claimed victory over ISIS' last territorial holdings in Syria, the terror group is 're-surging' there, according to a new Pentagon inspector general's report on the fight against ISIS.
Read more »