Syrian Arab army mows down 17 Islamic Front-linked terrorist ringleaders in Idleb countryside

PROVINCES,(ST)_Almost 17 terrorist ringleaders from the so-called the Islamic front were killed on Tuesday in Idleb countryside, according to the official news agency (SANA).

The agency reported that an army unit pounded a hideout for terrorist groups on the outskirts of Mantef town in Idleb countryside where many terrorists, including 17 ringleaders from the Islamic Front, died and several cars equipped with heavy machineguns were destroyed.

It added that the army units killed and injured many terrorists in the surrounding of Qminas town, defused 5 mines plus 8 explosive devices in one of the town’s farms and foiled terrorist group’s infiltration bid into Jesr al-Shogour- Jorin road in the same province [Idleb].

Meanwhile, the military operations against terrorist groupings continued in several areas outside Damascus, Daraa, Homs and Quneitra  provinces and in and outside Aleppo province.

An unknown number of terrorists were eliminated and several cars for terrorists were wiped out in today’s operations.

Yesterday, the army units targeted a weapons-laden car for terrorists in Jeroud area in northeastern countryside of Damascus and obliterated many hideouts for terrorists in Khan al-Sheih area in southwestern countryside of Damascus.

Interview with regiment 121’s Chief of Staff

As for developments in northeastern Hassaka province, the agency interviewed Chief of staff of the army Regiment 121 at Maylabiyeh, brigadier general Hammad Ismael , who confirmed that the entries of Hassaka city have become safe.

“Terrorists affiliated to the so-called the ‘Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant” ‘ISIL’ have pulled back 35km to the east of Hassaka. They are now in al-Hol town and receive weapons coming through Iraqi border,” the brigadier general said.

He added that there are ISIL terrorists also in al-Shdadi, Tal Brak, al-Rewayeh and Mabrokeh towns and in Alyeh area near Tal Tamer as well as in Tal Hmis on Qameshl road.

Tal al-Khedr in Daraa  

The official agency, in addition, published a report on the strategic Tal al-Khedr site in southern Daraa province which was attacked three times by al-Nusra Front-affiliated terrorists in the past week.

It clarified that the army units warded off last Friday an attack by 1500 terrorists, mostly from al-Nusra Front, on Tal al-Khedr from five axes – north and west of Da’el city, Tafas farms, Othman town and eastern side of Tal al-Khedr.

“At least 80 terrorists were killed and 170 other injured during the attack that lasted for 13 hours,” a military source told the agency’s reporter.

The source denied reports that al-Nusr Front-linked terrorists imposed control over Tal al-Khedr.” The army units have not withdrawn from any side of the site.”

“The circulation of the reports coincided with cutting off the internet fiber -optic lines in Othman town by terrorists in order to instil fear in civilians in Daraa city,” the source added.    

Basma Qaddour