The Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) have apparently resumed their combat operations in the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib.
On October 20, VKS warplanes carried out a number of airstrikes on the outskirt the town of al-Magarah in the southern Idlib countryside.
#RuAF warplanes bombard the outskirts of the village of #Almaghara and the village of #Farkia in Jabal Al-Zawiya S #Idlib CS #Syria pic.twitter.com/U1F5IQRk53
— Islamic World Update (@islamicworldupd) October 20, 2020
On October 21, at least three Russian airstrikes targeted the outskirt of the town of al-Rami in the exact same region.
#RuAF warplanes are again active in the skies over the #Syria|n province of #Idlib pic.twitter.com/zdlORjGYep
— Islamic World Update (@islamicworldupd) October 21, 2020
Both al-Magarah and al-Rami are located in the al-Zawiya Mount, a series of heights controlled by al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Turkish-backed National Front for Liberation.
Last week, 80 militants of HTS were reportedly killed when Russian warplanes bombed camps and headquarters of the terrorist group in the southwestern countryside of Idlib.
The recent increase in Russian airstrikes on Greater Idlib is a direct result of the repeated provocations of HTS and its allies.
Greater Idlib ceasefire, which was put in place on March 5, appears to be nearing its end. A new round of escalation may start soon. Any ground operation by the Syrian Arab Army and its allies in the region will likely lead to another confrontation with Turkish forces there.
