The main insurgent group in the Syrian province of Idlib pulled out of a critical rebel town as government forces advanced in the area on Tuesday amid intense bombardment and air strikes, a militant group and opposition activists said.
According to a statement from Syria’s main Al Qaeda-linked faction, the group made “a redeployment”, with its fighters withdrawing to areas south of the town of Khan Sheikhoun. From there, they would continue to defend the territory, it said.
The withdrawal is a significant loss for the opposition in its last major stronghold of Idlib, in northwestern Syria.
Syrian government forces have been on the offensive in Idlib and northern parts of Hama province since April 30, forcing almost half a million people to flee to safer areas further north. The fighting also killed more than 2,000 people, including hundreds of civilians.
Backed by Russian air power, Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s forces were able to enter parts of the town overnight, opposition activists said. Syrian troops are now clearing the area abandoned by militants of explosives and booby-traps, activists said.
“After fierce bombardment by the criminal enemy that avoids direct confrontation with holy warriors by implementing a scorched earth policy, our fighters have redeployed south of Khan Sheikhoun,” the statement said.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said the Al Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir Al Sham and other insurgent groups withdrew from Khan Sheikhoun as well as all the towns and villages south of the town.
Khan Sheikhoun was once home to about 34,000 people, but most of them were displaced by fighting in other parts of the country, before the government offensive began in April. In recent days hundreds of civilians remained in the town, said the group tracking Syria’s nine-year war.
The town is on the strategic M5 highway linking Aleppo in the north with Hama and the capital Damascus further south. A never-implemented ceasefire deal sponsored by Russia and Turkey was supposed to open the highway by the end of 2018.
Khan Sheikhoun was a stronghold of the Al Qaeda-linked militant faction, the most powerful group in rebel-held areas in Syria. The town was also the scene of a chemical attack on April 4, 2017 that killed 89 people.
The area south of the town to which rebel forces reported withdrawing is almost surrounded by pro-government forces.
A Turkish observation point is situated south of Khan Sheikhoun in the town of Morek. Turkey has installed lightly defended posts like these across Idlib, in the hopes of deterring an all-out assault on Idlib, home to rebel factions supported by Ankara.
But on Wednesday, Syria and its Russian allies bombed a Turkish military convoy travelling towards Khan Sheikhoun, killing three.
A Syrian ministry source told state news agency Sana that the convoy was carrying munitions for rebels, calling it an aggressive move that would not affect “the determination of the Syrian Arab Army to keep hunting the remnants of terrorists.”
There was no word on whether Turkish forces continued to man the observation point in Morek after rebels withdrew from Khan Sheikhoun.
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Zidane's managerial achievements
La Liga: 2016/17
Spanish Super Cup: 2017
Uefa Champions League: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
Uefa Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Fifa Club World Cup: 2016, 2017
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Schedule
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Jumanji: The Next Level
Director: Jake Kasdan
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Nick Jonas
Two out of five stars
Aldar Properties Abu Dhabi T10
*November 15 to November 24
*Venue: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
*Tickets: Start at Dh10, from ttensports.com
*TV: Ten Sports
*Streaming: Jio Live
*2017 winners: Kerala Kings
*2018 winners: Northern Warriors
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 611bhp
Torque: 620Nm
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Price: upon application
On sale: now
The specs: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor
Price, base / as tested Dh220,000 / Dh320,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission 10-speed automatic
Power 421hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 678Nm @ 3,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.1L / 100km
The Saga Continues
Wu-Tang Clan
(36 Chambers / Entertainment One)
Opening day UAE Premiership fixtures, Friday, September 22:
- Dubai Sports City Eagles v Dubai Exiles
- Dubai Hurricanes v Abu Dhabi Saracens
- Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
The Bio
Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride
She is the eldest of 11 children, and has four brothers and six sisters.
Her dream is to meet with all of her friends online from around the world who supported her work throughout the years
Her favourite meal is pizza and stuffed vine leaves
She ams to improve her English and learn Japanese, which many animated programmes originate in
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets