Reaching New Heights: Syrian Army Targets Hill Overlooking Key Idlib Town

The Syrian Army and the country's National Defense Force have reportedly managed to move closer to Kabani hill near the border between Latakia and Idlib Provinces.

A significant advance has been made by the Syrian Army and the country's National Defense Force on the border between the mostly government-held coastal province of Latakia and the predominantly terrorist-held province of Idlib. The army has deployed troops near Kabani hill above the key town of Jisr al-Shughur, according to the Iranian news agency FARS.

The agency quoted sources as saying that the army had managed to seize the southern overlooking heights of Kabani after heavy fighting with the Al-Nusra Front terrorists.

Soldiers of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA). File photo

© Sputnik / Iliya Pitalev

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"The Syrian government forces pushed the terrorists back from Jabal al-Zweiqat for the second time in the last 72 hours and also imposed full control over another mount opposite Jabal al-Zweiqat which paved the way for their easier access to the southern outskirts of Kabani," the sources said.

Earlier, it was reported that the terrorists continued to retreat in Latakia's northeastern areas near the border with Idlib province after the Syrian Army's large-scale offensive in the region.

#SYRIA Russian ASF and Syrian AF didn't make strikes on units, which joined ceasefire and informed Rusian or US Centres about their location

— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) 11 марта 2016 г.

Syria has been mired in a civil war since 2011, with forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting against a number of opposition factions and extremist groups, including Daesh (ISIL/ISIS) and the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front, which are prohibited in many countries, including Russia.

#SYRIA Report of the Russian Centre for reconciliation of opposing sides (March 12, 2016) https://t.co/IHxr9usENM pic.twitter.com/wR6DStjMtG

— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) 12 марта 2016 г.

In February 2015, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2268, endorsing a Russia-US agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Syria, shortly before the ceasefire came into force on February 27.

While hostilities across the country have subsided, government forces continue to battle recognized terrorist organizations which are not party to the truce.The cessation of hostilities does not apply to designated terrorist organizations operating in Syria, including Daesh and the al-Nusra Front.

Adding to the Syrian Army's anti-terror effort is Russia's ongoing air campaign, 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 and al-Nusra Front targets in Syria at the behest of President Assad.