Situation Turns Intense Around Syria’s Idlib Province

The government forces repelled a Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) attack in northern Hama province of Syria throwing the militant outfit into a setback after they launched their offensive with desperate miscalculation.

The former Al Nusra Front, an Al Qaeda affiliate, retreated from Tulaysiya, Al shathah and Al Qahira areas after they captured them nearly four days ago. The Syrian forces backed by heavy Russian airpower managed to break the momentum of the militant group and halted their advance in the next twenty-four hours. According to reports, intermittent fighting still continues.

HTS controls a majority of Idlib province in the north of Hama and the country and is majorly Jabhat al Fath al-Sham. Military observers say the province is likely to witness another round of infighting among the radical militant outfits as HTS failed to make a significant gain from its failed attack in Hama. The failed attempt by HTS is now likely to draw reactionary attacks against from other rival groups eyeing the former’s overthrow.

HTS’s attack also comes at a time when the Syrian government allowed hundreds of civilians and families reportedly of Islamic State (IS) militants to withdraw to an area in Idlib controlled by HTS.

After Deir ezzor, Idlib - which neighbours Latakia, Hama and Aleppo - is currently seen as a major flashpoint and another key area where Syrian forces are making considerable efforts to consolidate their position across the war-torn country. The measures also include Turkey’s deployment of troops in the province as part of a “de-escalation” agreement between Ankara, Tehran and Moscow.

Ankara is deploying its troops to maintain security inside Idlib whereas the Russians will maintain a security perimeter around the province. Nonetheless, Turkey is also deploying its forces near the Idlib-Turkish border.

The Russian defence ministry, however, has charged the US with orchestrating HTS attacks in Hama to distract operations being carried out by Syrian forces in Deir ezzor. The intention of the HTS through their attack, Russians found, was an attempt to break into the designated de-escalation zone.

The de-escalation zones are aimed to separate radical militant outfits like IS, Jabhat and Tahrir with other militant groups.

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