Beirut (AFP)

Syrian regime forces on Friday surrounded an observation post of the Turkish army near Idleb province, continuing a ground advance against jihadists and rebels in northwestern Syria at war.

The developments in Syria will be at the heart of a summit on September 16 in Ankara between the presidents of Russia, Iran and Turkey, three countries that play a leading role in the conflict that has torn this country since 2011.

After almost four months of almost daily bombings against Idleb Province and areas of neighboring jihadist-dominated provinces, Bashar al-Assad's regime, backed by his stalwart Russian ally, began a ground-breaking march on August 8th. .

On Thursday and Friday, the pro-regime resumed several localities straddling the provinces of Idleb and Hama, including that of Morek where is the observation post of the Turkish army, according to the Syrian Observatory of the Rights of the Man (OSDH). "The regime's forces encircle the Turkish observation post in Morek" in northern Hama.

Border of the province of Idleb, Turkey, which supports Syrian rebel groups and intervened militarily in the conflict against the Syrian Kurds and jihadists, has been deploying forces for nearly two years on 12 observation posts in the provinces of Idleb and Hama.

In Damascus, the official Sana agency confirmed that the Syrian army had taken control of several villages in Hama, including Morek and Kafr Zita.

- "No way" -

Home to some 3 million people, Idleb Province and adjacent areas in the provinces of Hama, Latakia and Aleppo, are dominated by the jihadists of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, former Syrian branch of al-Qaeda). ). Less powerful rebel groups are also present.

Since late April, the regime's shelling and artillery fire and its Russian ally against these areas have killed nearly 900 civilians, according to the OSDH. And more than 400,000 people have fled, according to the UN.

The Turkish presidency had early Wednesday that there was "no question of closing or moving" the post of Morek. All observation posts "will continue to operate where they are".

The Idleb region was supposed to be protected by an agreement on a "demilitarized zone", unveiled in September 2018 by Turkey and Russia to separate government zones from jihadist and insurgent territories.

But this agreement has only been partially implemented. Moscow denounces the presence of jihadists while Ankara fears to see Idleb plunge into widespread chaos, which could cause a new influx of refugees to its border.

"The developments in the field (...) require a revision of the agreement," said his side on its website the Syrian newspaper pro-state Al-Watan.

- "Strategic infrastructures" -

The regime's progress in southern Idleb seems to follow the route of a highway connecting the capital Damascus to the city of Aleppo in the north, two metropolises held by the power.

The city of Khan Cheikhoun, resumed Wednesday, is on this essential path. A little further north on the highway, the Maaret al-Noomane area was the target of nighttime air raids by the regime that killed three civilians, including one child, according to the OSDH.

"Assad could continue his offensive while he has the wind in his sails, to capture more (territories) to Idleb (...) and secure strategic infrastructure," told AFP Samuel Ramani, researcher at the Oxford University versed on the Syrian question.

Since 2015 and the military intervention of Moscow, the regime, already helped by Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah, has managed to take back nearly 60% of the territory.

Triggered in 2011 after the repression by the regime of pro-democracy demonstrations, the war in Syria, which became more complex with the involvement of several actors, left more than 370,000 dead.

© 2019 AFP