The Syrian army with help of its allied Hezbollah group as well as Russian airstrikes managed to advance to the west towards the province of Idilb as it secured a town controlled by the Army of Conquest, the extremist coalition headed by al-Qaida wing in Syria al-Nusra front group, Syria's state news agency said Sunday,
Syria's state news agency SANA said the military took control of Tal Skik, a highland area in Idlib close to positions held by the insurgents along a major highway connecting Syria's major cities, after an "extensive military operation" on the ground backed by Russia air strikes against "terrorist organizations" in the area.
SANA said the army had destroyed weapons, ammunition and equipment during the offensive and that 50 fighters from the extremist coalition had been killed in the airstrikes. Lebanon-based TV channel al-Mayadeen said a senior Hezbollah fighter had also been killed in clashes.
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While the Islamic State group is the most extreme group in Syria, al-Nusra and its allies in coalition are considered terrorists by the Syrian government, Russia as well as the United States. Last month, the Army of Conquest took control of the whole Idlib province.
Russia joined the fight against terrorist groups in Syria on September 30. It has since destroyed several Islamic State group command centers as well as helping the Syrian army advance against insurgents.
The Syrian army last week launched a massive offensive against the Islamic State group in the province of Hama aimed at recovering all cities, towns and regions besieged by those the government calls terrorists.
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