Syrian Defense Minister visits city in Idlib just hours after liberation

On the orders of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian Defense Minister paid a visit to an important city in Idlib province just hours after the location and the area around it was liberated from jihadist groups.
According to a public release by the Syrian military press service, General Ayoub arrived in the city of Al-Hobait (southern Idlib province) on Sunday morning just hours after the Syrian Army drove militant factions from it.
General Ayoub’s arrival, in addition to the liberation of Al-Hobait, coincided with the arrival of the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha.
During his official visit, the Syrian Defense Minister was briefed by Syrian Army field commanders who were part of the battle of Al-Hobait on the details of the operation that led to the expulsion of insurgent fighters from the city.
General Ayoub has served as Syrian Defense Minister since the start of 2018 and for over five years before that, as the Chief of the General Staff of the Syrian Armed Forces and Syrian Army – a position which has not since officially been replaced with anybody else.