THE Syrian government retook some territory today that it had lost to jihadists last week, while insurgent forces claimed the capture of four new towns.

These shifts in the miltary picture came the day after Turkey, Iran and Russia announced new diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting.

The capture of the towns is part of a wide offensive by rebels led by jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other Turkish-backed opposition fighters. 

Insurgents are now about six miles from Hama, Syria’s fourth-largest city.

Forces opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have captured large parts of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, over the past few days, as well as towns and villages in the south of Idlib province.

Both the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and pro-government media outlets reported that Syrian state forces had managed to recapture the village of Khanaser, days after losing it. Khanaser lies on a road leading to Aleppo.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Monday that the opposition fighters’ recent rapid advance showed that President Assad needs to hold talks with the opposition.

At a joint news conference in Ankara with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, Mr Fidan said that Turkey and Iran, which support opposing sides in Syria’s civil war, had agreed to resume diplomatic efforts along with Russia to restore calm days.

“Recent developments show once again that Damascus must reconcile with its own people and the legitimate opposition,” Mr Fidan said.

Turkish troops have occupied north-east Syria, protecting a jihadist “national salvation government” based in Idlib, since 2017.

Mr Araghchi, who visited the Syrian president on Sunday before travelling to Ankara, reiterated Tehran’s full support for his government. 

Iran has been one of Mr Assad’s principal political and military supporters.

Both Mr Fidan and Mr Araghchi said that Turkey, Iran and Russia would convene a new three-way meeting to address the conflict in Syria.

“We have decided to hold closer consultations and dialogue and, with God’s permission, we will co-operate to further improve the situation towards peace and stability in our region,” Mr Araghchi said.

Russian government spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday: “We continue our contacts at the appropriate level.

“A position will be formed regarding what is needed to stabilise the situation.”