Russia, Syria attack rebels: no advances on ground reported

STRIKES CONDEMNED: Syrian-Americans protest against Russian intervention in Syria outside a Russian consular office in Santa Monica, California, United States.Russia moved on Tuesday to resume military talks with the US aimed at setting rules for air-to-air conduct over Syria, a US official said, as the former Cold War foes carry out parallel, uncoordinated campaigns of air-strikes Picture: REUTERS
STRIKES CONDEMNED: Syrian-Americans protest against Russian intervention in Syria outside a Russian consular office in Santa Monica, California, United States.Russia moved on Tuesday to resume military talks with the US aimed at setting rules for air-to-air conduct over Syria, a US official said, as the former Cold War foes carry out parallel, uncoordinated campaigns of air-strikes Picture: REUTERS
The Syrian army and allied militia carried out ground attacks on insurgent positions in Syria yesterday backed by Russian air-strikes, in what appeared to be their first major coordinated assault since Moscow intervened last week, a monitor said.

Russia’s air-strikes 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 Syrian Observatory for Human Rights 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, the head of the Observatory Rami Abdulrahman said.

Although yesterday’s combined assault marked a military escalation, it was not immediately clear whether there would be rapid gains in a conflict that has already dragged on more than four years.

“There is no information yet of any (government) advances on the ground, but the air-strikes have hit vehicles and insurgent bases,” Abdulrahman said.

A regional source said forces including Hezbollah fighters were taking part in the ground attack against four rebel-held areas.

Reuters reported last week that allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, including Iranians, were preparing a ground attack in Syria, aimed at recapturing territory lost by the government to rebels in rapid advances this year.

Abdulrahman, 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 yesterday.

Russia, a top ally of Assad, started air-strikes in Syria a week ago, saying they were targeting hardline Islamic State militants.

But fighters on the ground and Western countries have said the Russian campaign is mainly focusing on other rebel groups that have seized government-held areas in the west, and is aimed at shoring up Assad rather than combating hardliners.

Most of Idlib province which was targeted is held by an insurgent alliance that includes al-Qaeda’s Syria wing Nusra Front and other Islamist factions.

subscribe

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.