Syrian Army Launches Offensive on Key Village in Aleppo Province

The Syrian army backed by pro-government militia started an offensive to free the village of al-Eiss in the south of Aleppo province from terrorist control, a source in the militia told RIA Novosti Thursday.

ALEPPO (Syria), (Sputnik) – The offensive began after “the city of al-Hader, one of the largest Nusra Front strongholds, was freed,” the source said, adding that al-Eiss liberation would allow the army to launch an assault on the village of Ekarda and neighboring settlements, where armed terrorist groups are concentrated.

The source added that the main aim of the Syrian army was to ensure security of the main highway connecting the Homs province with the city of Aleppo.

The Syrian army regained control of al-Hader, located just six miles from the strategic city of Aleppo, earlier on Thursday.

Syria has been mired in a civil war since 2011, with the government army fighting opposition factions and terrorist groups, such as the Islamic State and the Nusra Front.

On September 30, Russia began an anti-terrorist air campaign in the country at the request of President Bashar Assad.