Damascus Urges Idlib Residents To Evacuate Ahead Of Counterterrorism Offensive - Reports

Syrian government forces started warning residents of the Idlib province on Thursday of an upcoming large-scale counterterrorism offensive in the area, and are calling on the people to leave their homes for their own safety, Arab media reported

DAMASCUS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd May, 2019) Syrian government forces started warning residents of the Idlib province on Thursday of an upcoming large-scale counterterrorism offensive in the area, and are calling on the people to leave their homes for their own safety, Arab media reported.

The government forces are dumping leaflets over villages in Idlib from helicopters to spread the message, Al-Watan newspaper reported.

In response to intensified attacks on Syria's northwestern provinces by militants loyal to the Nusra Front terrorist group (banned in Russia) in May, the government forces boosted their counterterrorism efforts in the Idlib de-escalation zone.

In addition, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that Nusra Front terrorists had been carrying out massive attacks against Syrian troops in the southern part of the de-escalation zone, using military hardware and multiple rocket launchers, since Tuesday.