The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and the Tiger Forces have liberated 12 more villages and deployed within only about 2km from the strategic Abu al-Duhur airbase in southern Idlib, the Hezbollah media wing in Syria reported on January 10.
According to the report, government forces liberated the villages of Aziziyah, Abyad, Ras Al-Ain, Rasm Niyas, Uwayjah, Buwaydir, Umm Tamakh, Rifiyah, Bayaah Kabirah, Bayaah Sagirah, Qawlat Buwaydir and Rasm al-Jahash from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) and its allied militant group.
Meanwhile, reports appeared that militants started retreating HayJabal al-Hass, Rasm al-Nayyad, al-Aziziyah, Jubb al-Abyad and other nearby areas in southern Aleppo amid the collapse of their counterparts in Idlib province. Furthermore, the SAA had allegedly captured Abo Ruwayl and Maqbara south of Aleppo.
If confirmed, this will indicate that the militant defense is collapsing across the entire frontline west of the Aleppo-Khansir-Ithriyah highway.