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On July 25, the Syrian army successfully advanced in the Layramoun industrial area of Aleppo city, liberating over dozen buildings there. After liberation of the brick factory, sugar factory, Sabbagh factories, Bana factory, Shabareq factory and “Marketna Mall” area, the Syrian army reached Al Barrad crossroad. Heavy clashes were reported there. If Al Barrad crossroad is secured by pro-government forces, the logistical capabilities of militant groups operating in Aleppo will deteriorate significantly.
Early on July 26, the Syrian army further advanced south from the Mallah Farms, securing Castello Complex and expanding the zone of control along the strategic Castello Highway.
This will allow the Syrian army to develop momentum along the Castello Highway from north and from south, cutting off the militant units in Bani Zeid and Youth Housing from the main militant forces. The Kurdish YPG will likely use this in order to capture Youth Housing and help the Syrian army to push militants from Bani Zeid. Strategically, this move sets the full siege on the militant-controlled areas of Aleppo city.
Syrian and Russian warplanes have conducted a series of air raids against the ISIS terorrist group near the cities of Palmyra and Deir Ezzor in Syria. Syrian fighter jets bobmbed ISIS targets east of Palmyra and at Arak region, destroying the terrorists’ tactical units and fighting positions there.
Separately, Russian warplanes conducted air raids at Deir Ezzor with special attention to the Thayyem Valley where the terrorist group contentrated manpower for an advance against the Syrian army units encircled in the city. Due to Russian air raids the advance was foiled. Russian fighter bombers also conducted air raids near the T4 airport. However, there is no information about casualties among ISIS terrorists there.
The ISIS-linked Amaq media outlet reportedon July 25 that ISIS militants had shot down a US warplane near Ayn Asad Airbase in Iraq’s Anbar province. The report added that the warplane’s crew is dead. However, the U.S. military quickly rebutted the claim as false.
“LIFT the siege” means “BREAK the siege” in English. I know South Front has better things to do than worry about grammar; just trying to help. – I think “COMPLETE the siege” or “Complete the Encirclement of Aleppo” is what you meant? – Keep up the good work!
Hi, yes there was a typo. Thanks
What is the YPG going to do with Sheikh Maqsud? It looks like the SAA is going to cut off their only route to unite it with the rest of Rojava. The YPG sure as hell can’t engage the SAA in battle so it looks like they’ll be permanently cut off. As long as they keep it resupplied there’s no reason in theory why they can’t maintain their position in Alepoo despite being geographically isolated, but I don’t see them holding it in the long-term. They might try and use it as leverage in any negotiated settlement (give it up to the SAA in exchange for the SAA giving up Qashmili).
Sheik Maqsud has been geographically isolated from other YPG held areas for as long as I can remember. There seems little (if any) pressure on it from the regime, so if the rebels are being pushed back it actually significantly improves their position. There is certainly a mirror of the Quameshlo enclave in the north so it might well suit everyone for it to remain as is so each side has a bargaining chip. The big unanswered question (to me at least) is what will the long term relationship be between the Rojava and Assad. It seems obvious (to me at least) that it would be idiotic for them to go to war and some form of compromise might give everyone the ability to say they have gotten what they want from the other. Having said that everyone else in Syria seems utterly determined to do the stupid thing when given a smart alternative.
The relationship they have during the war will probably continue. Nobody needs to sign a settlement recognising official federalization or partition for the reality of partition to be de-facto accepted. Even after the regime captures the majority of the country from the Islamists, they’re going to be an incredibly weak, damaged and fragile state struggling with an Islamist insurgency and a decimated economy. Officially recognising Rojava would be unpopular outside of Rojava. The post 1991 status quo in Iraq might very well be what we see in Syria.
Great news, hope Aleppo is going to liberated soon.