Right now, the Syrian forces are deployed just several kilometers away from the city of Idlib, according to the Iranian news agency FARS.
The army's new major offensive came as the Syrian air force targeted strongholds of militant groups based near the towns of Khan Sheikhoun and Mardikh on the outskirts of Idlib.
Earlier this week, Syrian warplanes along with artillery units, pounded the militant groups' gathering centers in the Idlib province's southern areas, sources said.
In particular, the Syrian fighter jets bombed the militants' strongholds near the villages of Kafr Sajneh, al-Rakaya and al-Hamediyeh, in air strikes that left dozens of terrorists killed and many more wounded.
#SYRIA #FOOTAGE Aviation strike eliminated militants' strong point in the #Latakia province https://t.co/tCV6GVFTXGhttps://t.co/Kl6qMxnFm0
— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) 11 февраля 2016
In separate development this week, the Syrian government forces broke through the terrorists' defense lines and gained control over the town of Kessab, one of the last terrorist strongholds in Syria's western province of Latakia.
#SYRIA All the strikes against terrorists’ objects were carried out only after multiple checks and the exclusion of risks for civilians
— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) 16 февраля 2016
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.
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.
