Syrian Army readying to re-capture Idlib 23 February 2016 War Reports 3371 Source: FarsNews TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian Army announced on Tuesday that it has dispatched a large number of fresh forces to the Northeastern heights of Lattakia province near the border with Idlib province to join an imminent anti-terrorism operation. “The Syrian Armed Forces have been transferring fresh soldiers to the Kabani front, where they are likely to launch an assault in the coming days to break the last line of defense of Jeish Al-Fatah militants in Lattakia,” the army said. “In order to reach the rebel stronghold in Northwestern province of Idlib, the Syrian Armed Forces will have to capture the remaining heights overlooking the al-Ghab Plains from its Western side,” the army added. “If the Heights of Kabani are captured by the government forces, then they will be in position to strike al-Sirmaniyah and then Jisr al-Shughour,” the army pointed out. Military sources said on Monday that the Syrian army is preparing for large-scale operations to regain control of strategic strongholds and areas in Idlib. “Syria’s army is laying siege on key regions in Idlib countryside in a move to pave the way for winning them back,” retired Syrian army General Nassar Kheir told FNA on Monday. He reiterated that the Syrian army’s military operations start from Southern Aleppo province to Northern Hama in order to pave the way for seizing back Jisr al-Shughour. The Syrian army and popular forces have made remarkable advance in Idlib province in the last few weeks after winning back different strategic regions and are now only several kilometers away from the provincial capital. The Syrian army and its allies are now deployed in areas near Idlib city in the Northern parts of the country. The remarkable advances were made after the Syrian air force pounded the gathering centers of the terrorist groups in the town of Khan Sheikhoun and the regions near Mardikh town on the outskirts of Idlib city.
