Syria: feroce battle south of Idleb

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This photo taken on August 5, 2019 shows Syrian army strikes near Khan Cheikhoun. According to the Osdh, the army wants to encircle Khan Cheikhoun, not far from Hobeit, after having resumed these last days several towns and villages in the neighborhoods. Omar HAJ KADOUR / AFP

Some 70 Syrian soldiers, pro-Turkish rebels and jihadists were killed on Saturday (August 10th) during heavy fighting south of Idleb, where the Syrian army is trying to continue its advance thanks to the massive support of the Russian air force.

With our correspondent in Beirut, Paul Khalifeh

The battle was concentrated this Saturday around a strategic hill south of Idleb, where the Syrian army is trying to establish a bridgehead after progressing Friday in this sector.

Supported by Russian and Syrian aircraft and helicopters, government troops advanced to the hill and village of Sukeik. But hardly have they taken this height that the jihadists of the ex-branch of al-Qaeda and the rebels launched a counter-offensive, triggered after an attack by a kamikaze of Turkish nationality, according to the website. Masdar News, knowledgeable about Syria.

Turkish suicide bomber kicks off jihadist counter-offensive in southern #Idlib https://t.co/wyU0CXbITJ #Syria

The hill has changed hands several times throughout the day, under a flood of shells and rockets unmatched since the start of the government offensive on April 30. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports 150 air raids and a thousand artillery shells.

The battle of Sukeik is decisive, as the capture of this hill opens the way for the Syrian army towards the locality of Hobeit, an important lock of the jihadist defense line. This explains the determination of the government troops to take this hill and that of the jihadists to defend it with such determination.