Syria’s government forces are taking more villages from the Islamic State in East Aleppo countryside, and have now become at a stone’s throw from re-taking the group’s stronghold of al-Khafsah.

Fierce battles were reported to have taken place around the ISIS-controlled village of al-Khafsah whereby the Syrian Army succeeded to recapture several villages. One of which is Dkherah, located at the frontline with the US-backed, predominantly-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The new advance gets the Army closer to almost encircle the terror group in its bastion; which will also secure the water pumping station that feeds the entire northern city of Aleppo.

The results of the Army’ military operations in East Aleppo prove to be more than satisfying. In total, more than 850 km2 of territories have been so far liberated by the government forces since the campaign began less than 2 months ago. In addition to more than 132 villages fully recaptured. </s> On Monday morning, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) captured a new batch of villages in the eastern Aleppo countryside amid fierce clashes with ISIS militants in the region.

The advance was secured solely by the SAA’s Tiger Forces that have now imposed full control over the villages of Zarurah, Jubb al-Sultan, and Jubb al-Hamam.

Yesterday, the SAA captured a handful of villages from ISIS in the region but were mostly preoccupied with fighting off a Turkish Army assault on Tadef. The latter town is still under government control despite some reports to the contrary.

Due to today’s advance, the Tiger Forces are less than 5 kilometers from linking up with the Kurdish-led ‘Syrian Democratic Forces’ (SDF) near Manbij.

Both the SDF and SAA have clashed with the Euphrates Shield forces and ISIS in recent days; thus, a pragmatic alliance may be established.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Army are heavily shelling villages and towns held by the SDF in the region. Artillery strikes are ongoing on Al-Arimah and Sheikh Issa while some reports suggest the Turkish Armed Forces will soon begin an offensive to capture Manbij. </s> BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:15 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) continued their wide-scale offensive in the eastern countryside of Aleppo, liberating three villages from the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist organization near Mount Salma.

Led by the Tiger Forces, the Syrian Arab Army liberated the villages of Rasm Al-Hammam, Al-Ashayni, and Abu Judhah Al-Kabeera after a short battle with the Islamic State terrorists this afternoon.

This latest advance by the Tiger Forces this afternoon was made possible by the Syrian Arab Army’s liberation of Judhah Al-Sagheera and Al-Ra’wiyah in the northern part of the Deir Hafer Plain earlier today.

With these five villages liberated today, the Syrian Arab Army is now within striking distance of the Islamic State’s stronghold of Khafsa, which is also strategic because of its proximity to the Euphrates River. </s> Rate Article (4.5 / 4)

BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:00 P.M.) – Following the capture of Al-Khafsah town earlier in the day, the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) swept through a large ISIS enclave near the Euphrates River in the eastern Aleppo countryside on Tuesday.

After a massive last-minute ISIS withdrawal due to an exposed salient, the SAA’s Tiger Forces were able to capture 23 villages in just a few hours, namely: Abu Khattar, Rabbayah, Mazra’ah, Kharijis, Jannat as Salamah, Jannat as Saghir, Tall Abu Jadhah, Ash Sheikh Abyad, Khan al-Humr, Tall al-Aswad, Shu’ayb Hamr, Shihah, Dukhayrah, Ma’radah, Khirbat Shihab, Arb’a Kabeera, Ra’as Al-Ain, Balloura, Al-Na’eem, Asheni, Al-Tayara, Atejah, and Khafyah Sharqiyah.

According to Al-Masdar News field correspondent Ibrahim Joudeh, ISIS militants were overwhelmed by the unprecedented SAA advances and thus were not in time to booby trap the area as the terror group usually does prior to retreating.

Since the Tiger Forces began their large-scale eastern Aleppo offensive on January 17th, the SAA has wrestled control of some 145 villages and reduced the self-proclaimed caliphate’s territory by over 1000 square kilometers.

ISIS has now set up a last-ditch defensive line along axis between Deir Hafer and Jirah Airbase. The area is manned by militants that retreated from Al-Bab two weeks ago and jihadist units regrouping from the abandoned pocket.

Should the SAA smash through the Islamic State’s final line of defense in Aleppo, Syrian government troops are expected to restart their offensive towards Raqqa.

Advertisements </s> The Syrian Army’s Tiger Forces today continued their rapid advancement against ISIS by capturing 3 villages from the terrorist group in eastern Aleppo countryside.

The Syrian Army liberated the villages of Taiha, Halisiyah and Amoudiyah and are currently storming Um Mayal, which is expected to become ISIS-free within the day.

Meanwhile, Turkish-backed forces have attacked the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces-held towns and captured Kiridyah and Jablat Al-Hamra in south-west Manbij countryside from the militia.

Military sources in speaking with Al-Masdar News said that despite Turkish-led forces claiming that they captured Sukariyah Kabirah and Sukariyah Saghirahin, this is not true and the two towns are largely contested and empty from both sides.

Today the Syrian Army shelled turkish-led forces who tried to enter these towns, forcing them to retreat.

Both towns remain empty from the two competing armies.
The Syrian Army captures at least 23 villages in North East Aleppo Governorate from ISIL in a matter of hours after an ISIL withdrawal caused by the SAA capturing Al-Khafsah.