Syria enters Khan Sheikhoun, first real gain in battle for Idlib

After three days of heavy fighting, Bashar Assad’s forces entered the Idlib town of Khan Sheikhou which sits strategically on the Aleppo-Hama-Damascus highway. Heavy fighting continues in and around the town, which some sources said on Tuesday had fallen to the Syrian army.  Multiple losses were sustained by the rebel jihadist Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham which has controlled Idlib, the last province in rebel hands, for five years. The Syrian force was supported by Russian air strikes on rebel positions and access routes.

Meanwhile, a Syrian government air strike aimed at stopping a Turkish convoy heading for the northern Syrian town of Morek. The convoy is reported to have consisted of some 50 armored vehicles, at least five of which were tanks.