It became apparent to Simonds that any further gains in the Scheldt would come at heavy cost, as the Breskens Pocket, extending from Zeebrugge to the Braakman Inlet and inland to the Leopold Canal, was strongly held by the enemy.
Det stod klart for Simonds at enhver yderligere fremgang ved Schelde ville koste dyrt, da Breskens-lommen, der strakte sig fra Zeebrugge til Braakman og ind i landet til Leopold-kanalen var kraftigt forskanset af fjenden.