BEIRUT, October 19. /TASS/. Syrian government troops have been successfully advancing liberating from terrorists areas south and southwest of the city of Aleppo - the largest metropolis in the north of the country (355 km from capital Damascus) that were seized by armed gangs, Al-Mayadeen television reported on Monday.
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The Al-Mayadeen TV station reported that the Syrian army troops have driven the enemy on Monday out of their positions in eight settlements and occupied the Mahroukat and Snoburat strategic heights. According to the report, 84 square kilometres along the Damascus-Aleppo strategic highway have been cleared of extremist groups. The ringleader of the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Brigades jihadist group, Nasyf Ismail, was killed during the operation.
In the east, the Syrian government forces are advancing to the Kowaires military airfield that is besieged by gangs of the Islamic State terrorist organization. The militants conducted a dangerous counterattack in the town of Al Bukeysha east of Aleppo on Monday, but the Syrian troops "contained the onslaught and flung back the enemy," Al-Mayadeen TV said.
In the neighbouring province of Hama (220 km from Damascus), the army units and militias are advancing on Al Mansoura and Tell-Vaset, where the fortifications of armed gangs are located. Russian planes and the Syrian Air Force had previously delivered airstrikes on them.