The defense of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) and other favourites of foreign supportes ‘the Syrian democracy’ are collapsing in the province of Idlib.
Following large gains on February 4, the Syrian Army continued advancing on February 5. Government forces liberated the town of Resafah and several nearby villages. Thus, they isolated the militant stronghold of Sraqib from the eastern direction.
The advance came amid an intense bombing campaign by the Syrian Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Forces. Turkish observation posts created in the area apparently do not help to contain the Syrian Army offensive.
If the situation develops in this direction, Saraqib may be fully encircled by the end of the day.