The Syrian Armed Forces have liberated another five towns in the Hama province's north with support of the Russian aviation, the commander of the operation told Russian journalists.

"The advance of the Syrian troops began after Russian airstrikes. As a result, dozens of terrorists were killed, others chose to flee," Colonel Ibrahim S. told RIA Novosti.



According to him, currently the Syrian government's army is approaching the borders of the Idlib province in the north-west of the country, which is almost entirely controlled by insurgents.

The Syrian army has continued its ground operation in the territory captured by terrorists. The Syrian colonel added that this weekend the Syrian military liberated a town and villages in the Hama province from Nusra Front militants.

Dozens of Nusra Front militants were killed and taken prisoner during the liberation of the Atshan city in Hama, Col. Ibrahim S. said.

Syrian General Staff Lt.-Gen. Ali Abdullah Ayyoub said Thursday that the country's Armed Forces had launched a large-scale operation to retake occupied areas from the terrorists.

The Syrian government's forces launched the offensive after Russia’s Sukhoi Su-25, Su-24M and Su-34 attack aircraft, with the support of Su-30 jets, had commenced precision airstrikes against ISIL targets in Syria on September 30, following a request from Syrian President Bashar Assad.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, airstrikes have done considerable damage to ISIL command and logistics networks, as well as to infrastructure used to equip suicide bombers.