The National Liberation Front thwarted an infiltration attempt by Russian militias on Saturday night to advance on the axis of Jabal Al-Zawiya in the southern Idlib countryside following hours of heavy fighting.

"The militias tried just after midnight to move towards Benin fields on the eastern axis of the Jabal Zawiya area," a military source in the National Front told Call Syria, adding: "However, our fighters stationed on the axis were able to discover the attempt and repelled the advance groups."

The Syrian regime has lost control of the Idlib province following swift rebel advances, making it the second province to fall out of the regime’s hands.

Late Thursday, the Army of Conquest coalition of rebels stormed into Ariha, the last sizeable town in the northwest region, sending regime troops fleeing in the direction of the Al-Ghab Plain that straddles the Latakia province to the south.