Despite defeating the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) continued its attack against Turkish-backed militants and captured the town of Deir Sim’an and its historical citadel in the northwestern Aleppo countryside. The strategic town overlooks the Turkish-occupied area of Afrin.
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Turkish-backed militants responded to HTS’ advance by shelled Deir Sim’an and its citadel, according to the Iba’a news network. However, the militants have not made any attempt to recapture the town yet.
A day earlier, HTS imposed control of all the remaining positions of the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement and the negotiations on the group’s surrender began. HTS’s victory provoked a response from Russia, which struck all the ammo depots of the al-Zenki Movement in order to ensure that the group’s weapons will not reach the hands of radicals.
HTS will likely continue its advance along the Turkish-occupied areas in northern Syria in order to isolate the Turkish-backed militants in the southern Idlib countryside, especially in Maarrat al-Nu’man. After achieving this goal, the radical group may attack and neutralize these militants.
