ALEPPO, Syria — The opposition factions in Idlib confronted Jan. 14 a ground attack launched by the Syrian regime forces on al-Ankawi axis in al-Ghab Plain in northwest Hama that lies south of the strategic M4 highway.

There have been repeated infiltration attempts recently on the part of regime forces on opposition sites. The heaviest attack took place on Jan. 11, causing the death of 11 fighters from the Jaysh al-Nasr faction of the National Liberation Front (NLF).

The regime forces have recently intensified their violations of the cease-fire announced by Russia and Turkey in March 2020 in northwest Syria, as their artillery and missile strikes killed civilians in the villages of Jabal al-Zawiya as well as other areas near the contact lines in the south and east of Idlib and in al-Ghab Plain. The opposition factions have responded by shelling regime positions around Idlib.

Idlib is seemingly headed toward further military escalation between the regime and the opposition, raising concerns among the popular opposition circles over the return of military operations between the two sides.