Last Mile: Syrian Army Advances, Secures All But 7% of Latakia Province

Sputnik News

08:50 26.02.2016(updated 12:38 26.02.2016)

The Syrian Army and the country's National Defense Force have reportedly liberated a spate of strategic regions in the northeastern countryside of Latakia province in western Syria.

Several key areas have been liberated by the Syrian Army and the country's National Defense Force (NDF) in the northeastern countryside of Latakia Province in western Syria; dozens of terrorists were killed and many more were wounded in the fighting.

The Syrian troops managed to drive the terrorists out of the village of Barza al-Tahtani as well as the Katef al-Zaitona, Daher Sando, Tal Ghweirat and Jabal Abu Ali regions in Latakia, according to the Iranian news agency FARS.

In another development, the Syrian Army and the NDF won back the strategic Height 458 in Latakia, in an offensive that left scores of terrorists killed and injured, FARS quoted army sources as saying.

The offensive came after Syrian fighter jets pounded terrorists' positions based in the village of Ma'ar Baya in Latakia.

'Several militant positions and their military grid were severely damaged during Syrian jets' combat sorties over the village of Ma'ar Baya in Latakia province,' sources said.

According to FARS, about seven percent of Latakia province is still being controlled by Islamic militants, with the Syrian Army already seizing back more than 100 villages in Latakia over the last several months.

Syria has been mired in a civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting opposition factions and terrorist groups such as Daesh and the Al-Nusra Front, which are banned in Russia.

Adding to the Syrian Army's anti-terror effort is Russia's ongoing air campaign in Syria which was launched on September 30, when more than fifty Russian warplanes, including Su-24M, Su-25 and Su-34 jets, commenced precision airstrikes on Daesh and Al-Nusra Front targets in Syria at the behest of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

In addition, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed earlier this month that advanced, super-maneuverable Su-35S multi-role fighters had begun their combat mission in Syria.

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