Syrian insurgents shot down government helicopter; airstrikes on Idlib followed

A government helicopter was shot down by Syrian rebels in the northwest, where Syrian troops are fighting the last rebel stronghold. Following this was a government-sanctioned airstrike on a nearby city which reportedly killed 7 people.

Two crew members were killed when the helicopter was shot down and government forces came closer to capturing the last rebel-held part of a strategic highway linking southern and northern Syria. This would extend President Bashar Assad's control over Syria for the first time since 2012.

Syrian troops have been on the offensive with support from Russia for weeks in Idlib province, where stands the last rebel stronghold. Parts of nearby Aleppo are also under fire, which has triggered a humanitarian crisis involving the mass displacement of 700,000 people. Reports from the UN indicate that Several hundred civilians have been killed.

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Watch:Syrian attack in Idlib kills 4 Turkish soldiers

The deaths of 13 on both sides of the clashes between Syrian and Turkish troops worsened the conflict, and prompted Turkey, which supports the Syrian opposition, to send hundreds of vehicles into Idlib to prevent government forces from reaching the border areas with Turkey.

3.6 million Syrian refugees are currently situated in Turkey, with more flowing into its border as the fighting continues. Backed by Turkish artillery, the fighting was concentrated near the village of Al-Nayrab as rebels reportedly tried to retake the village that they lost last week.

Insurgents shot down the government helicopter gunship, killing the two crew members on board. Followed this was an airstrike whichreportedly killed 7 people and injured 24, half of whom were children. Syrian troops have reportedly secured the highway that links southern Syria with the northern city of Aleppo. M5, another name for the highway, is vital for the country's economy as well as for advancing reinforcements.

Also Read:Syrian army advances in Idlib as UN Security Council calls emergency meeting

Another victory for Assad is marked by the capture of this highway, as his forces have been progressing with leaps and bounds since 2015 with Russian airstrikes and Iran-backed fighters on the ground. Government forces have been capturing parts of the 450-kilometre highway for the past three years as it cuts through the country's four largest cities.