DAMASCUS, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian forces have almost besieged the city of Saraqeb in Idlib Province in northwestern Syria on Monday, approaching close to the key road in that area, a war monitor reported.

The Syrian forces advanced northwest of the city of Saraqeb and are now only one kilometer from the main highway linking Latakia province with Aleppo province, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Latakia-Aleppo road connects with the Damascus Aleppo road north of Saraqeb, which is now almost besieged by the Syrian government forces, according to the Observatory.

The main goal behind the Syrian military operation that has been dragging over the past few weeks is to secure the Damascus-Aleppo road.

The progress toward Saraqeb comes days after the Syrian forces captured the city of Maarat al-Numan in the southern countryside of Idlib, which was the first big achievement toward securing the main Damascus-Aleppo highway.