Syria in Last 24 Hours:

Al-Joulani Struggling for Uniting Terrorist Groups to Slow down Syrian Army Advances in Idlib

Rasa - Newly-appointed Chief Commander of Tahrir al-Sham Hayat (the Levant Liberation Board or Al-Nusra Front) Abu Mohammad al-Joulani urged terrorist groups to stand united against the Syrian Army troops rapid advances in Southeastern Idlib, well-informed sources reported on Wednesday.

News ID: 435867

Date: 18 January 2018 - 18:00

RNA - Al-Joulani, in an audio file, called on all the terrorist groups in Northwestern Syria to be united to confront the army's devastating advances in Southeastern Idlib.

He further confirmed that the terrorist front is in a critical situation, calling on the terrorists groups to ignore their differences as the army soldiers are conquering more regions in Southeastern Idlib.

Meantime, the Syrian army continued its military advances in other parts of Syria over past 24 hours.

Idlib

The Syrian Army troops continued advancing against terrorists in Southern Aleppo and Southeastern Idlib, inching closer to laying siege on the ISIL and the Al-Nusra Front trapped in a large region covering almost 80 villages and small towns in Aleppo, Hama and Idlib province, field sources said on Wednesday.

The sources said that the army men are advancing towards Eastern Idlib from Southern Aleppo, adding that the army men will lay siege on terrorists in a large region in Hama, Idlib and Aleppo province after capturing a village that is still under militants' control.

The sources further said that the army will be capable of laying siege on Al-Nusra in 35 villages in Southern Aleppo, parts of Northeastern Hama and Eastern Idlib after the army soldiers, deployed in Southern Aleppo, manage to reach their comrades in Eastern Idlib.

In the meantime, ISIL will be trapped in 43 villages in Northeastern Hama and Idlib province after the army advances in the region.

In the meantime, the Kurdish-language Hawar news reported that the Turkish army has sent a convoy of weapons and ammunition to the Al-Nusra from Bab al-Hawa passageway to Idlib.

Hawar news said that a convoy, consisting of several armored vehicles and trucks carrying weapons and munition arrived in regions under Al-Nusra's control.

It added that terrorists in Jandariseh and Shirawa regions in Afrin have already been equipped with the weapons and ammunition.

Field sources confirmed on Wednesday that Abu Hamzah Turki, a notorious field commander of Al-Nusra Front was assassinated by unknown attackers in Northwestern Idlib.

The sources said that Al-Nusra Commander Abu Hamzah Turki was assassinated by unknown raiders near the town of Bireh Armanaz in  Northwestern Idlib.

Tensions and differences have been on rise among terrorists after the rapid advances of the Syrian Army troops in Southeastern Idlib.

Field sources confirmed on Wednesday that Hossein Abudlrazaq Bakour, one of the notorious commanders of terrorist groups, has been killed in clashes with the Syrian Army men in Southeastern Idlib.

The sources reported that Hossein Abdulrazaq, a senior commander of Jeish al-Nukhba-Free Army, was killed in a tough battle with the army soldiers in Southeastern Idlib.

In the meantime, the Syrian Air Force pounded terrorists' movements near Ma'arat Shamarin and al-Halbah in Southeastern Idlib, killing tens of terrorists and destroying their vehicles and military equipment.

Aleppo

The Syrian Army troops on Wednesday stormed terrorists' positions in Southern Aleppo and managed to impose control over 2 more regions in their push towards Abu al-Dhohour airbase in Southeastern Idlib.

The army men pushed the Al-Nusra Front and its militant allies back from the village of Maseh and Tal (hill) Maseh West of the small town of al-Zaman in Southern Aleppo.

The army's engineering units have started defusing bombs and landmines in the newly-freed regions.

The army is trying hard to access and liberate Abu al-Dhohour airbase in Southeastern Idlib via activating different fronts, including Southern Aleppo flank.

Meanwhile, a Syrian outlet reported on Wednesday that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have forced 1,000 young people in Northern Aleppo to join the group in line with the US plan to form a new army at the country's border.

The Arabic-language al-Watan daily reported that the SDF have forced 1,000 civilians, mostly teachers, in the province of Hasaka and Deir Ezzur to join the SDF.

Al-Watan quoted an analyst as saying that the SDF's move is in line with the recent US decision to form a 30,000-member army in Northeastern Syria.

Also, field sources reported on Wednesday that another military column of the Turkish troops, including elite forces, has arrived at the border region with Syria within the framework of Ankara's plan to kick off imminent attack on Kurds in the town of Afrin.

The sources said that a convoy of Turkish military vehicles, including modern missile and artillery systems and armored and military vehicles has arrived at the border with Afrin in Northern Aleppo.

The sources confirmed that two units of the Turkish Special Forces have also arrived at border with Syria to participate in offensives against Kurds in the towns of Afrin and Manbij.

Damascus

The Syrian Army rescued 24 civilians that were kidnapped by the terrorist groups in Eastern Ghouta, military sources confirmed on Wednesday.

The army men together with the country's Red Crescent have released 24 civilians that had been kidnapped by terrorists in Karaj al-Abaseen region near the town of Arbin in Eastern Ghouta, military sources reported.

They went on to say that there were women and children among the released civilians, adding that the kidnapped civilians had been in terrorists' custody from 8 months to 3 years.

The army troops stormed terrorists' stronghold in Harasta region in Eastern Ghouta and imposed control over more positions on Wednesday.

The army men, backed up by the artillery units, launched fresh attacks on terrorists' positions in Harasta near the Vehicles Management Center and managed to advance East of Karaj al-Hajaz, taking control over several key buildings near the Vehicles Management Centers.

Also, the Syrian Air Force and artillery units targeted terrorists' movements and positions in Harasta and its outskirts, inflicting major losses on the terrorists.

Quneitra

A media outlet reported on Wednesday that the Al-Nusra Front and other terrorist groups in Quneitra province refused to endorse peace with the Syrian Army.

The Arabic-language al-Watan daily reported that the terrorists of Al-Nusra, Ahrar al-Sham and other groups affiliated to the Quneitra Operation Room, in a joint statement, declared their disagreement with reconciliation or ceasefire with the army.

The statement further said that the militants who embark on signing the peace agreement with the army will be badly punished.

In the meantime, the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria had already announced that talks were underway over the nationwide peace plan with militants in the towns of al-Hamidiyeh, Majdoliyeh and Jabat al-Khashab.

Hama

The Syrian Army troops engaged in tough battle with ISIL in Northeastern Hama on Wednesday and captured another key height.

The army men managed to impose full control over Tal (hill) Motilat overlooking the villages of Totaha nd Abu Hariq.

A number of terrorists were killed or wounded and their weapons and equipment were destroyed in the attack.

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