On February 2, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies secured yet another town in the southwestern countryside of Aleppo.
According to pro-government sources, the army captured the town of Zitan in the morning. Al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its Turkish-backed allies withdrew from the town without showing any real resistance.
Click to see full-size map. Source: (@Suriyakmaps) on Twitter.
A day earlier, the Syrian military reached Zitan’s eastern outskirt after imposing control of the towns of Humayra and Halisah.
The SAA’s elite 4th Davison, Republican Guard as well as several units of Lebanon’s Hezbollah are leading the ongoing ground operation in southwest Aleppo.
The next target of the army and its allies will likely be the town of al-Eis. The town and its high hilltop overlook several militants-held areas in southwest Aleppo and a large part of the strategic M5 highway.
Combat surgery in slow motion. This is going to be excruciating for HTS and Friends. I am betting many others, like the SDF and the ISIS supporting tribes further east are watching this closely. The band will be playing a completely different tune when Idlib gets wrapped up. Imagine all those Syrian armored and mechanized troops, with air support and lots of anti air capability, moving over to the east. These little moans and groans from the ‘occupiers’ are going to look mighty silly soon. My take all.
As previously predicted by intelligence that, the defense of terrorists along the eastern part of the M5 highway is currently weak, many terrorists have withdrawn from this area to defend more important and strategic areas along the M5 highway. SAA and its allies have taken the right step by taking advantage of this opportunity, pushing the terrorists harder. Make them run with their tails between their legs to their creators, the CIA and Co.
The size of the front is actually very impressive. Forcing the jihadists to defend a large swath of land while proceeding with 4-5 groups in small attacks on daily basis is a genius tactic that must be driving the jihadists nuts. Every time they move their troops, they become prey for russian and syrian jets. The shorter the fighting zone becomes, the more they are at the mercy of syrian artillery. its clever. A war with Turkey must be averted as long as possible.
good news!!
Judging by the recent advances and that they have secured the entire M5 now south of Saraqib I suspect securing the M5 is the main objective of this operation. I wouldn’t be surprised if this would be the end point after that. Who knows even a secret deal between Putin and Erdogan?
Yeah, the relation Turkey-Russia smell to much like bullshit, as far as Turkey continue acting as a terrorists-looting country in Syria.