DAMASCUS, Nov 25 (NNN-SANA) – The Syrian army captured the town of Misherfah, in the southern countryside of Idlib Province, in northwestern Syria, from the al-Qaeda-linked rebels.
The capture came after “intense battles” with the groups in the southern countryside of Idlib, with the army destroying the rebels’ weaponry.
It noted that many of the rebels fled the town towards other rebel-held areas in the south of Idlib.
A military source said, the army advanced to Misherfah under aerial cover, noting, the town was under the control of the Ajnad al-Kavkaz, a Chechen-led ultra-radical group, and their allies of the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front.
The rebels were using the town as a launching pad for their shelling on the areas in southern Idlib that had returned under government control.
Considered as the last major rebel bastion in Syria, Idlib emerged as the main destination of the rebel groups, which have evacuated several positions across the country, after surrendering to the Syrian army.
Certain parts of Idlib are included in a deescalation zones’ deal, brokered by Russia and Turkey, which backs the rebels.
However, such deals exclude the ultra-radical rebels, who are affiliated with the al-Qaeda and listed as terrorist groups by the United Nations.
