Syrian regime forces advanced against jihadists Saturday on the edge of the northwestern province of Idlib, the last outside government control, a monitor and the state news agency said. The fighting, which could signal the start of a major offensive to seize Idlib province from rebels dominated by a former Al-Qaeda affiliate, escalated on Thursday. On Saturday, regime troops advanced, seizing several villages and surrounding areas, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said. State news agency SANA said regime forces had taken control of five villages, areas and “strategic hills” in the northeast of Hama province. Government forces first aim to take control of the southeast of Idlib province, Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said.

Source: The Guardian December 30, 2017 15:11 UTC