Residents Return to Salma After Syrian Forces Recapture Stronghold

The strategic Syrian town of Salma has been seeing residents return since it was recaptured by government forces earlier this month. The Syrian army recaptured Salma, located in the northeast of Latakia Governate, on January 12. The town suffered severe damages during its three-year occupation by extremist groups. “The terrorists destroyed nearly the entire town. They burned 200 hectares of olive groves and 300 hectares of forests. Now they have fled towards Turkey,“ said Ibrahim Salim, governor of Latak