Syria: ISIL Starts Withdrawal of Forces from Al-Bab

The Turkish language Huriyet daily disclosed that ISIL has started retreating from the town of al-Bab after its positions in Eastern Aleppo came under massive attacks by the Syrian soldiers and Ankara-backed militants.

The Turkish army and Ankara-backed Euphrates Shield Operation’s forces have failed to capture al-Bab, while the Syrian soldiers could manage to take control over 25 villages, towns and heights near the towns of al-Bab and Deir Hafer in recent days.

Horiyet quoted Turkish military sources as saying that ISIL members have left their positions in al-Bab and have moved their command centers to the town of Tadif to the South of al-Bab, planning for full withdrawal from al-Bab.

The Syrian army troops seized full control over a strategic town East of Aleppo province on Saturday.

The army units engaged in fierce clashes with the ISIL in the morning and finally freed the town of al-Brij at around midday, inflicting a number of casualties on the militants.

A field source said that the army plans to continue advance towards the town of Aran after the liberation of al-Brij.

He further added that liberation of the towns of Touman, al-Sheikh Den and Deir Qaq is atop the agenda of the army soldiers.

“Terrorists will come under siege in the Southern towns of al-Sheikh Den and al-Moshayrefeh once the army captures the town of Touman,” the source continued.