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Syrians launch offensive backed by Russian airstrikes, say activists | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Syrian troops backed by Russian airstrikes are battling rebels in two provinces, activists say, in what appears to be the first major coordinated assault since Moscow intervened in the conflict. | |
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a Syrian government offensive began on four fronts on Wednesday morning in the north-western provinces of Idlib and neighbouring Hama. Its director, Rami Abdurrahman, described it as “the most intense fighting in months”. | |
The latest developments come exactly a week after Russia began launching airstrikes in Syria. Moscow says it is targeting Islamic State and al-Qaida’s Syrian affiliate, but at least some of the strikes over the past week appear to have hit western-backed factions. | |
Russia’s airstrikes hit northern parts of Hama province and nearby areas in Idlib province, targeting towns close to the main north-south highway that runs through major cities in western Syria, the Observatory said. | |
Ground attacks using heavy surface-to-surface missile bombardments targeted at least four insurgent positions in the area and there were heavy clashes on the ground, it added. | |
Related: Turkey 'cannot endure' Russian violation of airspace, president says | Related: Turkey 'cannot endure' Russian violation of airspace, president says |
Abdurrahman, who tracks the conflict using sources in Syria, said the ground assault was being carried out by regime forces and their allies, with no immediate sign of Russian involvement on the ground. | |
Syrian state media and regional pro-government channels made no mention of new Russian strikes or the ground attacks on Wednesday. | |
Most of Idlib province is held by an insurgent alliance that includes al-Qaida’s Syrian wing, the Nusra Front, and other Islamist factions. | |