The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) captured early on August 18 several large farms west and northwest of Khan Shaykhun in a move aimed at encircling the key town.
According to pro-government sources, the SAA secured the farms of Nijm, Nisr and al-Safar which are located 1,5-1km away from Khan Shaykhun in southern Idlib.
Meanwhile, the army continued its advance northwest of Khan Shaykhun imposing control of the al-Nar hill, one of the highest points in the region. The hill was reportedly captured following heavy clashes with Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies.
Click to see full-size map, By Google Earth.
By expanding its control in Khan Shaykhun’s outskirt and capturing al-Nar hill, the SAA managed to cut the militant’s supply lines west of the town. The army also made a huge step towards the Damascus-Aleppo highway.
The SAA will likely advance further around Khan Shaykhun in the upcoming few hours. Russian and Syrian warplanes are now pounding the remaining militants’ positions inside the town.
Such a perfect strategy and so well executed! Best of luck SAA during the upcoming hours and days! I enjoy every single victory of yours in fighting terrorism and preserving the future of your contry!
Kill the goat-fuckers and their CIA handlers.
“Pounding the remaining militants”, I love it.
Al Nar hill is a ways to the north. Which means the Jihadist rats have a major problem holding this front and the farmlands. Look forward to seeing a lot more red on the next map. Go 4th div and Tigers! :) https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/13a2a669997878cbca9df9d1508baafc9382cc62c7bba04c23ef7f1984183643.png
like i wrote a week ago….
Squash them like cockroaches from east and west…..and as i mentioned a week ago..
i wanna see and hear turkish and russian reaction once the illegal occupiying Military turkish base at morek is boxed in……..lolol…. southfront mentioned that “Maybe” the turkish Forces could get out by Choppers..lolhahahahaha.. yeah sure…..tanks,artillery,SUVs and hundreds of TAF memebers evacuated by Choppers……bullshit…….no,,, once they are boxed in, they will have to SURRENDER to SAA…unless ofcourse Putin decides otherways…..this is definetly going to be a “turning Point” for
1. russian-turkish relationship 2. probably , if TAF does not surrender, breakout of direct confrontation between SAA and TAF, which also means Nato WILL get involved as Turkey and the USA are on the Roadmap for their “safezone” in North and North eastern syria………….
and all that nonsense and riducule by Folks here will come to an end….and as I predicted, Russia(Putin) paved the Ground for direct NATO involvment in syria…. might i remind everybody here..it was Putin who allowed and gave the green light for TAF to invade and occupy afrin…..it was Putin who made the Agreement with TAF to invade and build 12 Military bases in Idlib!!!
The Turkish OP at Morek does not need to surrender or breakout, SAA and Turkey are not at war. They will just sit there until they are withdrawn. This will be an embarrassment for Erdogan for sure. Turks will stay there for as long as possible, so the Jihadist do not get pissed off about their pullout.
GO SAA GO SAA GOO SAA GOOOOOOOOOOO SAA!!!!!!!!!!!
Dude, Israel isn’t exactly attacking SAA posts or positions, but rather iranian proxies fighting for the SAA. And the strikes are rarely large or massive so the losses are minimal. We rarely see casualties of these airstrikes. However, they are a message to Iran. The US airstrikes were merely a PR – stunt. Biggest joke of the year. They informed Russia 1 hour before and Russia told Syria so they evacuated all positions. They also shot down many of the US missiles. Video evidence uploaded online shows 13 shot down, so I would guess around 30-40 missiles shot down out of 70 in total. The rest fell on empty air base and fields.
https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/old_wire/img/upload/2012/04/22/osos/lead_large.gif?1481844459
Good to see SAA progress. I knew they had this capability, so why has it been so slow? There are severe fuel shortages in Syria and many other shortages as well due to western imposed economic sanctions. My guess is they needed a lot of manpower to bring in harvests, so everyone can eat, and to stop sleeper cells burning harvests etc. The men are free to continue the campaign now. We are reaching a tipping point.
Hey Brokes, great points.
My guess is that this entire operation is more of a surgical nature. The SAA moves, at least initially, seemed be intended for getting the head choppers to move around bit, pull out the reserves from hiding and gradually attrit them. It is a slow methodical process, intended not just to take ground but, permanently destroy AQ and co.. The news about reinv coming out of northern Syria or Turkey proper, would be testimony to that having been an effective strategy.
Now that Nusra and friends has been bled a bit and their supplies chopped up, the pace appears to be picking up. So far around khan, evidence to this is that so far, there has been no substantial and/or effective counterattack in the last few days. This has occurred in the face of increasing ground losses to the SAA. My take. I wish well to you. :)
Manpower shortage.
Indeed.
ISIS = CIA