Syrian Arab Army restores Saraqeb from Turkey-backed militants

CAIRO - 2 March 2020: The Syrian Arab Army restored control over Saraqeb early on Monday after they had targeted Turkish artillery batteries near Qomainas as they were used to hit the Syrian Armed Forces concentrations.

Russian Military Police were deployed in Sarqeb southern Idlib to ensure the security and traffic flow on the M4 and M5 highways.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that Turkey is sending further munitions to militants in Idlib. As reported by Sputnik, military reinforcements were brought by the Syrian Arab Army on Sunday in the southern and eastern countrysides of Idlib.

Operations by the Syrian Armed Forces stopped for around five days but resumed on Monday in Jabal al-Zawyah district in the southern countryside of Idlib. The Syrian army recovered Hizareen and Al Dar Al Kabera from militants affiliated to Ansar Al Tawhid, Ansar Al Sham, and Turkistan Islamic Party. The two villages were occupied by militants backed by Turkey two days ago.

The operations were preceded by heavy strikes launched by Syrian and Russian aircrafts on the defensive structures of militants extending from Kansafra, Al Bara, and Ehsim to Jisr al-Shughur, the stronghold of Uighurs in Syria.

The Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria warned that Russia will no longer be able to guarantee the safety of Turkish aircrafts in Syria.

Turkey had called upon Russia to withdraw from Syria for the latter to respond that its presence is legitimate and based on request of the Syrian government.

Field sources told Sputnik that the pilots of two Syrian fighter jets survived the targeting of their aircrafts in Saraqib. The jets were hit by Turkish missiles as they were executing operations against Qaeda militants.

The Turkish army announced on Sunday targeting Nayrab Military Airport located in Aleppo putting it out of service as part of the “Spring Shield Operation” launched against the Syrian Arab Army in Idlib earlier on March 1.

On the other hand, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that the Syrian Arab Army downed four Turkish drones on Sunday in the southeastern countryside of Idlib.

Earlier on Sunday, the General Command of the Syrian Armed Forces declared banning aviation in northeastern Syria, particularly over Idlib. The statement affirmed that any jet that violates the airspace will be downed and banned from committing aggression.

Deadly engagements took place on February 27 between the Syrian Arab Army backed by Russian Air Force on one hand, and Turkey-backed militants and Turkish Troops on the other hand.

In February, the Syrian Armed Forces were able to restore control over dozens of villages and towns in the countryside of Idlib, Aleppo, and Latakia as well as the M4 and M5 highways connecting those governorates together and with Damascus.