If you’re able, and if you like our content and approach, please support the project. Our work wouldn’t be possible without your help: PayPal: southfront@list.ru or via: http://southfront.org/donate/ or via: https://www.patreon.com/southfront
Militant groups in the province of Idlib have started an active phase of preparations to counter an expected advance of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in the area.
On July 29, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra), Jabhat Tahrir Suriya (formerly Ahrar al-Sham), the National Front for Liberation, the Turkistan Islamic Party, Horas al-Din and some other groups created a new operations room to coordinate their military actions against the SAA.
According to pro-militant sources, the operations room unites about 70,000 members of various militant groups. However, this number looks overestimated.
On the same day reports appeared that leaders of Idlib militants and Turkish officials met in the Turkish capital of Ankara to discuss the future of Idlib. Turkey, as one of the main backers of militants in the province, is deeply concerned by the upcoming SAA operation because the defeat of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Jabhat Tahrir Suriya and other groups there will boost positions of the Damascus government and decrease the Turkish influence in northwestern Syria.
In southern Syria, the SAA continued its operation against ISIS liberating the town of Abidin and nearby points east of the Golan Heights. Government forces also advanced on the ISIS-held town of al-Shajarah. If the SAA liberates it, only 4 relatively large settlements will remain in the hands of terrorists there.
Meanwhile, members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and the Free Syrian Army in the province of Quneitra handed over two upgraded T-55 battle tanks, a BRDM-2 amphibious armored patrol vehicle, a 2S1 Gvozdika 122 mm self-propelled howitzer, a M-46 130mm towed field gun and several vehicles armed with machineguns of different calibers the SAA under a previously reached surrender agreement.
On July 28 and July 29, ISIS members carried out two attacks against the SAA in the eastern part of the province of Deir Ezzor. Main clashes took place near the towns of Hasrat and al-Majaudah, in which the SAA allegedly suffered some casualties. However, all the attacks were repelled.
Currently, the Syrian-Iranian-Russian alliance is focused on combating radical armed groups in the southern part of the country. According to Syrian leadership and local sources, as soon as this operation is finished, the SAA will start preparing for operations against the remaining cells of ISIS in the central desert and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham-led forces in the province of Idlib.
If that isis desert pocket is defeated, the us occupation of tanf desert area becomes pointless.
True, but al Tanf is also major border crossing and by occupying it they put further pressure on the country’s economy. Also, it’s the closest and optimal point for the Shiite crescent to connect, so I don’t think the Muricans are ready to let Iranian material flow freely in Syria just like that. I think the question about tanf is not anymore a matter of “if” but a matter of “when”. Hopefully soon.
There are few conflicts in recent times when there have been so many ‘sponsored’ terrorist gangs, foreign and domestic, with differing agendas on one side that are fighting against a democratically elected sovereign state that itself has many irregular groups , foreign and domestic, that support the state along with sovereign allies ,such as Russia and Iran.
Diplomacy is an art and the standard of diplomacy required to untangle the Gordian Knot in Syria has superbly complimented the Syrian coalition military strategy. Russian diplomacy in particular has set a new standard of excellence that the hapless dullards with attitude in the US and EU can only fantasise about. Even if Henry Kissinger has made many under the radar trips to Moscow in recent months :)
The Kurds better come to their senses very quickly,they can’t depend on the zioyanks,as they will throw them under the bus as soon as they lose control of the oil and had.The Kurds need to make good with Damascus in order to survive with any future.
Gas.
Fucking propaganda…final push and fighting go on !! Why Russian and coalition dont destroy SDF and ISISL + white helms ? SSA and Russia replace ISIL to another part of Syria . and there start far to fight opposite SAA. Helter -scalter !
The trolls are becoming more and more surrealistic and demential. This one surelly came from Mars or even from Pluto.
SAA should clean the other ISIS packets before going to Idlib
No need of the ‘before going’, they can do both things at the same time.
Brown trouser weather in Idlib methinks.