Warplanes of the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out a new wave of airstrikes on militant positions in the towns of Saraqib and Khab al-Subul in the southeastern Idlib countryside in the late hours of March 9.
سراقب الآن? pic.twitter.com/2cXftpLf5S
— Lama (@Lama46943798) March 9, 2019
Few hours earlier, Russian warplanes carried out a similar attack on several militants positions in the western Idlib countryside. The airstrikes targeted the villages of Mintar, Frikeh and Tell Khatab.
These aerial operations are likely a response to the recent attack by Jaysh al-Ahrar. The Turkish-backed group killed several Syrian service members near the Christian town of al-Suqaylabiyah in the morning.
Idlib militants stepped up their attacks on the residential areas around the northern governorate after the beginning of the Turkish military patrols in the demilitarized zone. These attacks were clearly aimed at sabotaging any possible ceasefire.
A military operation by the SAA and its allies around Idlib appears to be closer than ever, especially that militants have now proven that they are not willing to stop their attacks.