A coalition of foreign-backed militant groups, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has launched a major offensive against Syrian military positions in Aleppo province, leading to intense clashes and significant casualties on both sides, Tasnim reported.
According to local media, the militants have captured at least ten areas west of Aleppo and Idlib.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported nearly 100 deaths among soldiers and militants.
Among those killed were 37 Syrian servicemen, including at least four officers, and five servicemen were captured. The militants seized weapons depots, armored vehicles, and heavy weapons.
The clashes also resulted in civilian casualties, including children.
The source added that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham used rocket launchers and mortars to advance toward Syrian army positions.
In response, the Syrian army, backed by reconnaissance aircraft and a joint Syrian-Russian air force, launched large-scale strikes on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s supply line from Idlib city to the Taftanaz military airfield east of Idlib.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, formerly known as the Nusra Front, is designated a terrorist organization by Syria, Russia, and several other countries.
Syria has been embroiled in a foreign-sponsored conflict since March 2011, with Damascus accusing Western governments and regional allies of supporting terrorist groups to destabilize the country. These groups seek to thwart the Syrian government’s efforts to restore security and stability, which has been exacerbated by Israel’s repeated aggression.