DAMASCUS, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The rebel groups have launched a counter-offensive on areas recently recaptured by the Syrian army in the southern countryside of Idlib province in northwestern Syria, a war monitor reported on Thursday.
The counter-offensive has flared on Thursday morning with rebels heavily shelling positions of the Syrian army in the areas of al-Tah and Jarjanaz in the southern countryside of Idlib, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
It said intense battles have been raging in that region amid an effort by the rebel groups to retake areas they had lost to the Syrian army in recent days.
The watchdog group said there have been no airstrikes amid heavy rainfall in that region.
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.
