Syrian Army Takes Key Heights Near Turkish Border Under Control

The Syrian army continues its large-scale offensive on terrorist positions in a number of provinces, taking hold of key heights near the Turkish border, an army spokesman said Monday.

JABLA (Sputnik) — According to Brigadier General Ali Mayhoub, the government troops supported by local militia attacked ISIL positions in the Homs and the Aleppo provinces, liberating two villages to the north of Homs and five villages to the south of Aleppo.

"As a result of the attacks on the militants' positions, dozens of terrorists have been killed or wounded," Mayhoub said.Mayhoub said.

"Our armed forces have also carried out combat missions in the Salma-Joub al-Ahmar area [near the Turkish border], taking control of key heights," the general added.

The Syrian army repelled an ISIL counter-attack in the Deir ez-Zor province, he said.

Moreover, the Syrian Air Force destroyed ISIL headquaters in the provinces of Homs and Idlib, Mayhoub said.

In October, the Syrian army, with Russian air support, started to advance to the east and north, pushing the front line further away from Latakia and freeing more villages from jihadists.

On September 30, Russia began to conduct pinpoint airstrikes at terrorist positions in Syria at President Bashar Assad's request.