Intense fighting initiated by the terrorist group of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and its proxies continues in Idlib governorate. According to the General Command of the Syrian Armed Forces, the government army counterattacked militants concentrated around Ma’arrat al-Nu’man, Saraqib and west of Aleppo.

In this regard, on January 25, the Syrian foreign minister sent a letter to both the UN Security Council and the UN Secretary-General, in which he explained that the SAA launched an offensive in response to systematic ceasefire violations by terrorists.

The General Command’s statement also underlined that Syrian Army’s strikes were well coordinated and precise. Furthermore, SAA’s attack didn’t cause significant damage to civilian population and infrastructure. Even the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an UK-based non-government organization, acknowledged that. This is due to the calculated and well-planned actions the Syrian army had managed to avoid any unnecessary loss of life.

There were three humanitarian corridors in Idlib that operated 24 hours to allow civilians to exit from the terrorist-controlled area. Previously, the SAA informed locals of the exit procedure through the checkpoints by distributing leaflets, sending SMS messages and broadcasting on TV and radio. However, as a result of death threats and daily shelling of checkpoints by militant groups civilians were not able to leave the province.

It should be noted that the local people were trying to prevent escalation. Many accounts on social media published photos and video showing numerous demonstrations against the HTS dictatorship. Street protests were brutally suppressed by jihadists. At the same time, they arbitrarily deprived the protesters of basic living conditions. Almost all food and medicine that militants seized from the inhabitants were stored in the militias’ warehouses.

Currently, Syrian government consistently endeavors to ensure peace in the territories liberated from terrorists. In particular, Ma’arrat al-Nu’man residents welcomed the SAA that supplied people with necessities, food, medicine and heaters. In the meantime, Damascus deployed police patrols to maintain law and order and preserve private property.

Idlib’s inhabitants warmly welcome the SAA which put them out of jihadists’ burden. After the full liberation of the province Syrian people will be united again and will be able to come back to their houses to restore peace and stability.