Syrian Army Liberates 18 Towns, Villages in Northeast Latakia Province

The Syrian Army and the country's National Defense Forces have reportedly liberated more than 18 towns and villages in the northern countryside of Latakia Province in western Syria.

More than 18 towns and villages located in the northern countryside of Latakia province have been liberated by the Syrian Army and the country's National Defense Forces (NDF), media reports said.

The Syrian Army's General Command released a statement saying that  militants had been squeezed out of a number of strategic towns and villages, including al-Ghnaimiye, al-Qalai’e, Beit Sukkar, al-Ouainat, Khan al-Joz, Beit Riha, Bradon, al-Souda, al-Khadra, Reef Mekhtaro, al-Jamousiye, al-Saraya, al-Rayyana and al-Shakria.

Position of Syrian army at village of Salma and city of Zabadani

© Sputnik / Michael Alaeddin

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The statement came after the Syrian troops managed to take control of the town of Rabia, one of the major Islamist strongholds in Latakia.

Syrian Army soldiers celebrated the liberation of the town of Rabia Watch More: https://t.co/aymFronnwU pic.twitter.com/zjpkfjknxT

— Ruptly (@Ruptly) 26 января 2016

The statement underscored the importance of establishing control over Rabia, something that the Syrian Army command said would help the government forces destroy the remaining terrorist groups in Latakia's contested northeast.

#SYRIA In the course of last 24 hours, supported by Russian aviation Syrian forces liberated 92 sq km, 28 towns including #Rabia

— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) 25 января 2016

In another development, the army and the NDF reportedly took full control of a strategic district located near Kweiris Airbase in the northern province of Aleppo.

#SYRIA Since January 22, Russian AF have been performing 70-100 sorties daily in order to support Syrian army and patriotic opposition units

— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) 25 января 2016

The liberation of the district from Daesh came after the Syrian troops and the NDF took back the strategic villages of Qatar and Tal Hattabat, located to the north of Kweiris Airbase late last week.

#SYRIA According to Syrian patriotic opposition and Baghdad Info Center, up to 2000 militants with armored vehicles deployed near Deir ez-Zor

— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) 25 января 2016

Adding to the Syrian Army's anti-terror effort is Russia's ongoing air campaign in Syria, which was launched on September 30, when more than fifty Russian warplanes, including Su-24M, Su-25 and Su-34 jets, commenced precision airstrikes on Daesh targets in the country at the behest of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

#SYRIA On January 22-24, Russian aviation group in Syria performed 169 sorties engaging 484 terrorists' objects https://t.co/ZwGLZXCbGL

— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) 25 января 2016

The Russian General Staff said on Monday that combat aircraft from the Russian air group in Syria have carried out 169 sorties in the last three days, hitting more than 480 terrorist targets.

The statement came as dozens of Daesh terrorists were killed and many more wounded after the Syrian Army foiled a spate of militants' attempts to seize hilltops located near the strategic town of Baqaliyeh in the eastern province of Deir ez-Zor.