Beirut - Stung by recent losses, Syria's regime is making a concerted push to reach besieged forces trapped in the rebel-held town of Jisr al-Shughur, hoping to give supporters a much-needed morale boost.
The strategic town in north-western Idlib province fell to rebels including Al-Qaeda's local affiliate just over two weeks ago, but a group of regime loyalists remain trapped inside a hospital complex.
In the past few days, army troops have launched a major counteroffensive in a bid to reach the besieged group but also potentially to retake the town, which lies near the Turkish border as well as the regime stronghold of Latakia province.
"The loss of Jisr al-Shughur had an effect in terms of psychology and morale on the Syrian street, so it's a particularly important battle for the regime," said Bassam Abu Abdullah, director of the Damascus Centre for Strategic Studies.
In addition, the presence of the officers and soldiers stranded inside the hospital is a bitter reminder of a similar situation last summer where regime forces were left behind and killed by jihadists.
"This battles is both symbolic in terms of the army proving it doesn't leave soldiers behind on the field and helpless, and strategic because Jisr al-Shughur opens the door to the Latakia region," said Waddah Abed Rabbo, chief editor of the pro-government Al-Watan newspaper.
The regime's commitment to returning to Jisr al-Shughur and freeing those trapped inside the hospital comes from President Bashar al-Assad himself.
Last Wednesday, he pledged "the army will arrive soon to these heroes trapped in the Jisr al-Shughur hospital."
Assad's government is eager to avoid a repeat of August 2014 when jihadists executed more than 200 soldiers after they seized Tabqa air base in Raqa province.
Photos and video of the executions spread throughout social media and horrified supporters of the regime, with many questioning why the forces had been left behind in Tabqa.
A group of pro-regime Alawite youth were even arrested for their criticism of the defence minister afterwards.
AFP
