Security restored to three villages in Syria’s Aleppo

Syrian armed forces and allied volunteer fighters have recaptured three villages north of the country as the battle continues to purge militants from areas across the province of Aleppo.

Syria’s official news agency SANA said on Monday that army units, in cooperation with popular defense groups, restored security and stability to Masqan village in the northern countryside of the city of Aleppo.

The report said Syrian forces had earlier in the day liberated the village of Kafr Naya, located around 25 kilometers north of the city of Aleppo, from the occupation of terrorists.

The gains came hours after the allied forces seized control over the village of al-Tiba and its surrounding farms in eastern countryside of Aleppo. The village is located near the Kwairis military air base and its eastern neighborhood, which the Syrian forces have retaken from Daesh Takfiri forces operating in the region.

SANA said a demining operation had begun in Tiba while other sources said an operation was ongoing in the vicinity of the thermal power station near the village where Daesh has built huge fortifications. The report said 12 machinegun-equipped vehicles were completely destroyed in the offensive.

Syria has been recording back-to-back victories in its battle against militants in Aleppo, especially since pro-government forces managed to break the siege on two key villages near the Turkish border, namely Nobbul and Zahra, less than two weeks ago.

Syria’s success in Aleppo, Idlib and Latakia provinces has apparently irritated neighboring Turkey, with reports suggesting that more weapons are being smuggled from southern Turkish border towns into Syria to help militants resist Syria’s sweeping drive.

Opposition sources in Turkey said Monday that the only conduit remaining for the transfer of weapons from Turkey into Syria is through a border crossing on the border with the Syrian province of Idlib as previous access points in Aleppo and Latakia have been blocked by Syrian government forces.

Since 2011, Syria has been gripped by a militancy it blames on some foreign governments. The conflict has reportedly claimed the lives of more than 470,000 people.