The Syrian regime has made significant advances today in Aleppo province, winning battles in multiple areas, breaking the rebel siege of several towns, and possibly encircling the city of Aleppo.
Meanwhile, SANA, the Syrian regime's news/propaganda outlet, reports that the siege of two regime towns, both of which have long been surrounded by Syria rebels, has been broken:
Sources on the ground told SANA’s correspondent on Wednesday that Army and Armed Forces units operating in Aleppo’s northern countryside, in cooperation with groups of popular committees, broke the siege imposed on Nubbul and al-Zahra towns by terrorist organizations.
ِِArmy units advanced towards Dweir al-Zeitoun,Tal Jbeen and Hardanteen towns to which security and stability were restored on Tuesday.
Scores of terrorists were killed, most of them from Jabhat al-Nusra during the operations, some others fled away leaving arms and ammunition, while some of them turned themselves along with their arms to the army and the popular groups.
Army units completely cut off supply routes coming from the Turkish territories to terrorists fortified in Mayer town in a new advance leading to more victory.
Anything SANA writes needs to be verified, but in this case sources in the opposition confirm that the rebel siege of Nubbul and al-Zahra has been broken.
The Telegraph reports that Aleppo may now be completely encircled by the Assad regime's coalition of fighters:
Syrian government forces cut rebel supply lines to Aleppo under cover of Russian air power on Wednesday, in what could be a pivotal moment in the five-year war.
After three days of intense fighting and aerial bombardment, regime forces, believed to include Iran-backed Shia militias, broke through to the formerly besieged regime enclaves of Nobul and Zahra.
In so doing, they cut rebel-held eastern Aleppo off from outside help. With regime forces to the south and west and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant to the east, the part held by non-Isil rebels is now surrounded.
By nightfall, rebel forces were mounting a final stand from a mile-long patch of territory north-east of Aleppo. But local media activists aid the opposition forces were on the verge of withdrawal, facing massive bombardment from Russian and regime air strikes.
Syrian regime encircles Aleppo under Russian air power
Syrian government forces cut rebel supply lines to Aleppo under cover of Russian air power on Wednesday, in what could be a pivotal moment in the long civil war. After three days of intense fighting and aerial bombardment, regime forces, believed to include Iran-backed Shia militias, broke through to the formerly besieged regime enclaves of Nobul and Zahra.
View full page →The United Nations says the Russian-backed campaign has killed hundreds of civilians, including three international aid workers, and has displaced thousands. Reuters reports:
"The U.N. has received reports of displacement of hundreds of households in north-east towns of Bayanoun, Hariyatan, Anadan, Hayan and Rityan of Syria following an unprecedented frequency of air strikes in the past two days," a U.N. spokeswoman said in a statement to Reuters.