Assad forces enter Idlib, one of four de-escalation zones

Syrian army forces have entered parts of the Idlib province in north-west Syria, one of four “de-escalation” zones which foreign powers including turkey, Iran and Russia agreed to establish after years of civil war.

This follows weeks of attacks launched from the province of Hama on Idlib by Assad’s army and allied forces.

Assad forces took control of the Tahrir al-Sham Organization’s villages, including the village of Tal al-Khanazir south-east of Idlib.

The Syrian Human Rights Watch said that the regime's forces had taken over Tal al-Khanazir after fierce fighting and air raids.

The ISIS-linked Tahrir al-Sham Organization, which controls large areas of Idlib, issued a leaflet calling to group efforts to deter these attacks.