File image.
On January 10, up to 18 Syrian soldiers and militants were allegedly killed near the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib during an attack by al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
HTS militants raided a key position of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in the outskirts of Bsartun town in the western Aleppo countryside in the early morning hours, taking advantage of poor weather conditions.
The terrorist group acknowledged that three of its militants were killed while taking part in the raid. It also claimed that 15 soldiers of the SAA were killed. Nevertheless, pro-government news sources said that only three soldiers had lost their lives.
Footage from the attack shows HTS militants storming the SAA position amid heavy fog then opening fire at soldiers and receiving direct hits.
The raid on Bsartun position was the most recent in a series of attacks by HTS targeting the SAA and its allies around Greater Idlib.
The attacks, which also included a number of rocket and drone strikes, began in December as Russia intensified is efforts to restore ties between Ankara, who maintains a large force in HTS-held Greater Idlib, and Damascus, the main foe of the terrorist group.
HTS is apparently attempting to sabotage Russia’s efforts by violating the ceasefire in Greater Idlib, which was instated under an agreement with Turkey more than two years ago. The SAA and its allies are yet to respond to the terrorist group’s recent provocations.
