On Friday, intense festivities would breakout between the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and jihadist rebels in the eastern countryside of Idlib after the former heavily shelled Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham
’s positions near the Abu Dhuhour Airbase.According to a military source in eastern Idlib, the Syrian Arab Army heavily targeted Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham’s positions with missiles and artillery shells at the Khuwayn and Zarzour axes; this prompted a powerful response from the jihadists.
The jihadists would fire a plethora of missiles towards the Abu Dhuhour area of eastern Idlib, prompting another response from the Syrian Arab Army.
This latest confrontation comes just 24 hours after the commander of the Tiger Forces Suheil al-Hassan arrived in east Idlib with one of the leaders of the 5th Corps.
The source says that the Syrian Arab Army is preparing to kickoff a new offensive inside the eastern part of the buffer zone, as the jihadist rebels have refused to leave the area.
Heavy weapons ‘present at rear defense lines’ in Idlib’s demilitarised zone
[ALMASDARNEWS] Armed gunnies were seen in the area surrounding the northern province of Idlib, where a demilitarised buffer zone is meant to have been established, footage from Tuesday shows.
According to Abdel Salam Abdel Razaq of the ’National Front for the Liberation of Syria,’: "Defense lines remain intact, and elements [fighters] are still at their locations. Light weapons are still there, including 14.5′ and 23′ rifles [sic], and anti-tank weapons."
He added that the implementation of the agreement is "smooth and easy and with no complications."
Tiger Forces commander arrives in east Idlib as offensive is reportedly back on
[ALMASDARNEWS] The commander of the Tiger Forces arrived in the eastern countryside of the Idlib Governorate on Thursday, the group’s official media wing reported.
Major General Suheil al-Hassan of the Tiger Forces reportedly arrived at the Abu Dhuhour Airbase in eastern Idlib on Thursday morning after receiving orders from the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) High Command to deploy to this front.
The Tiger Forces leader reportedly toured the battlefield around the eastern Idlib front along with the commander of the 5th Corps.
According to a military source in Damascus, the Syrian Arab Army’s offensive in east Idlib is back on for now, but this could change if the jihadist rebels leave the designated buffer zone.
Should the jihadist rebels not withdraw from the buffer zone in the coming days, then the Syrian Arab Army will launch their long-awaited operation in the eastern countryside of the Idlib Governorate.
The Syrian Army has already begun military exercises near the Idlib front-lines, with their air force conducting several reconnaissance flights over the jihadist positions.