Syrian government forces have reportedly hacked and landed a squadron of drones operated by foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants before they could launch an attack against a major refinery in the central province of Homs.

Syria’s official news agency SANA reported that an army unit used a spoofing technique on Sunday to hack the controls of five combat drones, commandeer them and bring down the aircraft.

Army manages to disrupt and down five drones which tried to target Homs Refinery https://t.co/ISB8GzC09s pic.twitter.com/WaSE4G66B2 — SANAEnglishOfficial (@SANAEnOfficial) February 16, 2020

The drones were to target the Homs refinery, which is one of Syria’s two main refineries covering most domestic demand for diesel, heating fuel, gasoline and other products.

On February 4, Syrian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali Ghanem said Takfiri militants had launched drone strikes against al-Rayyan gas field, the Ebla gas plant, the South Central region gas factory and the Homs refinery.

The Ebla gas plant provides local power plants with approximately 2.5 million cubic meters of gas per day.

On December 21, the same Syrian ministry announced in a statement that terrorists had targeted the oil refinery in Homs and two gas facilities, one south of the city and one in the desert to its east..

Syrian army secures more areas, purges Aleppo of terrorists

Separately, Syrian troops, backed by allied fighters from popular defense groups, managed to liberate the villages of Kfar Da’el, located northwest of the neighboring al-Rashidin district of the northwestern province of Aleppo, and Tal al-Shuwayhna following heavy clashes with members of the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham Takfiri terrorist group, formerly known as al-Nusra Front, and their affiliates.

The photo, taken on February 16, 2020, shows Syrian government forces in Mansoura village, located some 10 kilometers (six miles) west of the city of Aleppo, after recapturing it from foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants. (By SANA)

Syrian artillery units also pounded the positions of Takfiri militants in Qabtan al-Jabal and Babis villages, which lie in the southern countryside of the province.

Government forces also struck the strongholds of terrorists in Bashqatin village and the environs of Atarib town, located 25 kilometers west of Aleppo.

The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported on Sunday that Syrian forces have captured 13 villages and small towns north and northwest of the city of Aleppo.

Following the new gains, the Syrian army has practically liberated the entire city of Aleppo from clutches of terrorists, causing people of the city to pour into the streets in jubilation.

Last week, Syrian forces seized control of the strategic M5 highway, which connects Damascus to Aleppo.

Syrian flag hoisted over Khan al-Asal police academy

Also on Sunday, the Syrian national flag was hoisted over Khan al-Asal Police Academy in Aleppo’s western countryside after it was totally liberated from terrorists.

The Aleppo Police Command also deployed units of Internal Security Forces to the international highway that connects the town to Aleppo’s western entrance.

Speaking to SANA, Aleppo Police Commander Maj. Gen. Issam al-Shelli said the academy will be rehabilitated and put in service in the coming days.

Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates wrote to the United Nations on January 25, stressing that the operation in Idlib and Aleppo against Takfiri elements "will not stop until the elimination of those terrorists, who threaten safety and security of Syrian civilians."