On Novermber 3, pro-militant media outlets widely promoted the start of the so-called ‘2nd phase’ of advance in western Aleppo. Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian al-Qaeda branch) and its allies from the Jaish al-Fatah operation room attacked the pro-governent forces (the Syrian army, the Syrian army’s Tiger Forces, the Desert Hawk Brigade, Hezbollah and others) in the 3000 Apartment Project, the 1070 Apartment Project, the neighborhoods of New Aleppo, Minyan and al-Assad. Nonetheless, by November 4, the joint militant forces have failed to achieve any gains.
A pro-government map of the situation in Western Aleppo:
Click to see the full-size map
The militants were unable to break the army’s defenses due to failure of a major part of car bomb attacks on the government forces’ positions. As result of the advance, Jaish al-Fatah lost at least 2 field commanders and a sgnificant number of manpower and military equipment.
According to photo and video evidences (and information confirmed by pro-militant sources), since October 28, Jaish al-Fatah has lost over 10 armored vehicles, 10 ‘techicals’ equipped with machine guns, 8 main battle tanks, 3 artillery units and 3 multiple rocket launcher systems.
However, the militants’ artillery and rocket launchers delivered significant damage to the government-controlled areas, killing and injuring up to 40 fighters.
A pro-militant map of the situation in Western Aleppo:
Click to see the full-size map
Separately, Jaish al-Fatah delivered a series of artillery strikes on the Syrian government’s supply line along the Castello highway in northern Aleppo.
In general, the clahes in Aleppo city remain in a stage of the trench warfare. Jabhat Fatah al-Sham and its allies don’t have enough manpower and military equipment to deliver a devastating blow and to break the defenses of pro-government forces in the area.
A humanitarian pause also started on November 4 in Aleppo. But clashes are ongoing.
i must say i don’t get why the Russian Aerospace forces don’t organize CAS patrols, circling the area and then engage the ragheads artillery as soon as it opens fire. It’s not that difficult to perform such a mission, given the quantity of recon assets the Russians and allies have deployed in Aleppo.
Maybe with the Kuznetsov anchored off-coast, this will be possible.
right. but i don’t think that the Kuznetsov is going to be anchored, it will probably patrol a box of sea with its screens.
I agree with John Whitehot. Russian have a lot of resources (drumps, satelite, planes, misiles, eliicopters, night vision killers, and so on) so that: first, to be able to aniquilate hard and moderated terrorists; second, to take totally control of Allepo at once. What are they waiting for ? Please, not another cease fire for humanitary help (only the terrorirst they advantage of these fire break).
Don’t be fooled by putin’s voluntary stand down order. It isn’t voluntary. The US is enforcing a temporary no fly zone in aleppo against Russian planes to give the foreign fighters an optimal chance during this offensive. They did this before earlier this year when they broke thru the artillery school.
If you see Russia resuming airstrikes here that means the offensive either succeeded or the US had given up on the offensive.
Worth doing some cross reading – of EU business pages – to see Russia juggling priorities.
Putin looks to have created short pause and scheduled Russia’s next moves in Syria around their naval deployment’s arrival for a reason. Because in last week been negotiations over ending of EU’s anti trust case against Russia’s Gazprom. Arbitration to end five year anti trust case against Russia’s gas company in EU courts, and if happens Gazprom will avoid massive penalty fines. This arbitration could be the start to normalization of EU/ Russia economic relations and obviously in Russian interests to secure that.
Gazprom profits paid for by Syrian army blood. As usual.
This is a very serious failure on the part of AQ et al. They tried it all, even teaming with ISIS to cut SAA supply lines. My take on it is, Russia knows they are done, so give the Air Force a chance to stand down, repair and rearm before the next push. Let them build their trenches and fortifications, so what needs to be bombed is more easily identified. It also gives a shot at people getting out of Aleppo.
One thing about Russia lately, it never wastes resources on things it does not need to do. Another, the US is not calling any shots over there now. The fact that Egypt has sent military personel to work with Russia and Syria on counter terrorist ops is a gigantic slap in the face to the West. Ghouta is almost done now. The sands on time on the ´rebels´ is almost over. A good day to all.