Syrian army make gains after Russian airstrikes

The Syrian army backed by allied militia have advanced in western Syria after heavy Russian airstrikes in areas around the main highway running though major cities, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

After Syrian government forces captured Atshan village after heavy fighting with rebels, the military and Lebanese Hezbollah militiamen also took control of Tal Skik, a highland area in Idlib province close to insurgent-held positions along the highway.

Syria's state news agency SANA also said Tal Skik was now under Syrian army control after an “extensive military operation” on the ground backed by Russia air strikes against “terrorist organisations” in the area.

It said the military had destroyed weapons, ammunition and equipment during the offensive and that 50 enemy fighters had been killed in the air strikes. The Observatory and Lebanon-based TV channel al-Mayadeen said a senior Hezbollah fighter had also been killed in clashes.

On Saturday the Russian military reported 64 strikes against Isis targets in 24 hours. The coalition led by the US said it had targeted Isis in Syria with five airstrikes on Friday, and also hit the militant group 20 times in Iraq, according to a statement released on Saturday.

The Combined Joint Task Force said the Syria strikes hit tactical units near Al Hasakah, Ar Raqqah, Manbij, and Mar’a and also destroyed tactical vehicles and a building belonging to Islamic State.

Near Palmyra, a strike destroyed and damaged Isis front-end loaders, tractor-like equipment which are used in construction, it said.

Four attacks concentrated near Ramadi in Iraq struck two Isis tactical units and also destroyed a preparation area, a front-end loader, a heavy machine gun and six fighting positions. The strikes also “denied [Isis] access to terrain,” the statement said.

The Russian campaign has prompted concern among US officials who believe that rebel groups allied to Washington are being targeted. Moscow has however insisted that it is bombing ISIS fighters and other “terrorist groups.”

“They are bombing in locations that are not connected to the Islamic State group,” US Republican Representative Mike Pompeo told the AP news agency. Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the intelligence committee, said the US should consider establishing a no-fly zone that allows rebels a safe place from which to operate.

A no-fly zone would require the US military to be ready to engage in air battles with the Syrian government, which is something it is not prepared to do.