Anti-regime groups advance rapidly in eastern and southeastern Idlib

By Ethem Emre Ozcan, Ahmet Karaahmet, Omer Koparan and Mehmet Burak Karacaoglu

IDLIB, Syria (AA) - Armed groups opposed to the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad have made swift advances in the eastern and southeastern regions of Idlib, capturing more than 50 villages from regime forces.

Since Wednesday, armed groups that have been clashing with regime forces in northern Syria have been advancing rapidly in both the rural areas of Idlib and Aleppo province.

Since this morning, the armed groups have captured more than 50 villages in the eastern and southeastern parts of Idlib, which were previously under the control of the Assad regime.

Despite the "De-escalation Zones" Agreement reached during the Astana talks, the Syrian regime had captured these villages in 2019 following intense attacks.

The clashes began Wednesday in the western countryside of Aleppo.

On Nov. 27-28, anti-regime groups rapidly advanced from western Aleppo's countryside toward the center, capturing numerous areas in Idlib's countryside on the second day of clashes.

On Friday, the groups had entered Aleppo’s city center and reached the central districts by evening.