Rebels intensify attacks in Syria's Idlib following recent defeat

DAMASCUS, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army on Sunday responded to another wave of attack by the rebels in Idlib, days after the army foiled the offensive in the rebels' bastion, according to the Syrian army War Media.

The army forces have responded to the attack by the al-Qaida-linked Levant Liberation Committee (LLC), otherwise known as the Nusra Front, and the Turkish-backed Turkistan Party in the southern countryside of Idlib, according to the report.

The battles have been raging since Saturday evening, when the rebels renewed their attacks on the military positions in southern Idlib, according to the report.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor group said 95 rebels, including six commanders, have been killed in the battles in southern Idlib over the past four days.

On Thursday, the rebels launched a wide-scale offensive to thwart the advance of the Syrian army that has been daring on since Dec. 25.

The rebels succeeded to capture some areas from the army, before the government forces unleashed a counter-offensive on Friday and succeeded to retake the fallen towns.

The Syrian military offensive aimed at clearing the southern countryside of Idlib, the northern countryside of Hama province in central Syria, and the southern countryside of the northern province of Aleppo from the al-Qaida-linked militants and the Turkish-backed rebels.

War Media said the Syrian army has almost captured the entire southeastern countryside of Aleppo, after capturing tens of towns in that area.

The report said the army is advancing from southern Aleppo towards the Abu al-Duhur air base in the southeastern countryside of Idlib.

Only 8 km separates the army units that have advanced from the northern countryside of Hama towards Abu al-Duhur with the advancing units from southern Aleppo.

State news agency SANA said Friday that the rebels were using Turkish military gears in their attacks in Idlib, as this province is seen by Ankara as a place of interest.

Idlib has emerged as the main destination of the rebel groups, which have evacuated several positions across Syria after surrendering to the Syrian army.

The area has become a home to several rebel groups from different affiliates, some of which are supported by Turkey, while others, including the LLC, are designated as terrorist groups.

The LLC has returned to the surface after the near-defeat of the IS militants in their key strongholds late last year.

The focus of the Syrian army seems to have shifted to defeating the LLC, as this group controls key areas near Damascus and much of Idlib. Enditem