Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-05 23:33:31|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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DAMASCUS, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Turkey-backed rebels sent reinforcement to face the military campaign of the Syrian army in the northwestern province of Idlib on Sunday, a war monitor reported.

A total of 140 military vehicles were sent from the positions of the Turkey-backed National Army rebel group in the southern countryside of the northern province of Aleppo to the rebel positions in the southern countryside of Idlib.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Russian warplanes carried out 11 airstrikes on rebel positions in the southern countryside of Idlib on Sunday.

The strikes targeted areas in Maarat al-Numan and surrounding areas in the southeastern countryside of Idlib.

It said the Syrian forces also shelled rebel-held areas in the southern Idlib countryside.

The Syrian army has made notable progress in recent weeks in the battles against the rebels in Idlib, capturing several areas in the quest to liberate the road linking Hama province with Aleppo in the north.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said recently that the battle against terrorism in Idlib province is a priority to the Syrian government.

Assad said the aim behind the battle in Idlib is to eliminate terrorism, adding that counter-terrorism is the priority and comes ahead of anything else.

Idlib has emerged as the main destination of the rebel groups, which have evacuated several positions across Syria after surrendering to the Syrian army.

That province is now considered as the last major rebel bastion in Syria.

Certain parts of Idlib are included in a de-escalation zones' deal brokered by Russia and Turkey, which backs the rebels.

However, such deals exclude the ultra-radical rebels who are affiliated with the al-Qaida and branded as terrorist groups by the UN.