BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria’s army and its allies pressed further into the country’s largest remaining rebel stronghold on Sunday, capturing a town and several villages as they approached a military airport, a pro-Damascus media unit and a war monitor reported.
Forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad have stepped up the offensive in the southern province of Idlib in recent days, advancing toward the Abu al-Duhur airport, which rebels captured from the president’s troops in September 2015.
The Syrian army and its allies “have gained control over the town of Sinjar,” 14 kms (nine miles) from Abu al-Duhur, and three villages to the west, the media unit run by Assad ally Hezbollah reported.
Supported by Iran-backed militias and Russian air power, Assad’s forces have since late October taken back rebel-held territory in Idlib and the northeastern province of Hama.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Sunday the army had taken more than 95 villages in Hama and Idlib since Oct. 22, including around 60 in Idlib alone during the past 14 days.
“Battles have shifted now to the northwest of Sinjar after the Syrian army and its allies have controlled the town,” the Britain-based monitor reported.
The main rebel force in Idlib is Tahrir al-Sham, spearheaded by the former al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria previously called Nusra Front.