Syrian govt forces recapture Saraqib from Turkish-backed terrorists

 This video grab taken on March 2, 2020 shows Syrian government forces and their allies in the strategic city of Saraqib in the southeastern countryside of the country’s northwestern Idlib province. (Photo by SANA)

Source: Press TV

Syrian government forces have managed to retake a strategic city in the southeastern suburbs of the country’s northwestern province of Idlib from Turkish-backed militants.

Syria’s official news agency SANA reported on Monday that Syrian army soldiers and their allies have entered the city of Saraqib after violent clashes with the extremists and severely hitting their positions and fortified lines.

Battles are still taking place on the outskirts of the city as the Turkish-backed militants are trying to re-enter the area.

Army units enter Saraqeb City after fierce clashes with Turkish regime-backed terrorists

Saraqib has a strategic significance as it overlooks the 450-kilometer-long M5 highway.

The M5 highway starts in southern Syria, near the border with Jordan, and runs all the way north to the city of Aleppo near the Turkish border.

Video Source: South Front

Since 2012, the M5 had been controlled by various foreign-backed militant groups. Syrian government forces started regaining parts of the highway in 2014, but they were only able to take full control during the latest offensive.

Syrian army troops and their allies established control over the highway on February 10 after dealing heavy blows to Takfiris south and west of Aleppo.

The Damascus government began road repair shortly afterwards, and the Syrian Ministry of Transport announced on February 22 that the highway was officially open to traffic and “at the full disposal of citizens.”

Russian says its military police in Syria's Saraqib

After Syrian forces entered the strategic city of Saraqib, Russia's Defense Ministry announced that its military police had also entered the city "due to its importance for security."

The ministry’s statement added that the deployment was made to ensure security on the M4 and M5 highways, which connect the cities of Latakia, Damascus, and Aleppo.

Syria: SAA retakes control over strategic city of Saraqib

Video Source: RT Ruptly 

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