Syrian Army Cuts ISIL’s Main Route from Aleppo to Raqqa

The Syrian Army, backed by Russian bombers, continued its anti-ISIL operation to recapture the strategic town of Maskana in Eastern Aleppo and drive the ISIL out of the province, capturing tens of towns and villages.

Following the liberation of tens of towns and villages, the Syrian Army advanced toward the Raqqa-Maskana Road that is considered the ISIL’s main supply route to Eastern Aleppo.

The pro-gov’t forces managed to close off the vital route of the militants to their so-called de facto capital in Northeastern Syria.

Well-informed sources said the Syrian Army’s recent advances in Eastern Aleppo to capture Maskana have left the ISIL with no other option but to pull the remaining pockets of its forces back towards Raqqa province.

Reports disclosed that a large number of ISIL members have fled Maskana to save their lives, planting dozens of mines in the region to slow down the Syrian army’s advance and the town’s collapse.

If the pro-government forces make it to the Euphrates River to the South of Maskana, ISIL will be completely encircled with no way out as the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are deployed on the Western bank of the Euphrates.

The Syrian Army troops are now advancing against the ISIL in the Eastern Aleppo province, encircling the last bastion of the terrorist group, Maskana to blot out the presence of the militant in the Eastern part Aleppo countryside.

By recapturing Maskana, the pro-government forces will be able to deploy in the Western countryside of Raqqa for the first time since 2014.

The Syrian Army managed to seize control over more key territories along Khanasser-Ithriya road in its campaign against ISIL South-East of Aleppo province.

In a relevant development on Saturday, the army soldiers engaged in fierce clashes with ISIL in the Eastern direction of Khanasser-Ithriya road, capturing regions in the Northeastern and Central parts of al-Toweiyineh mountain.

The army men also drove ISIL away from al-Elm strategic hill in the same region.

The army units also inflicted major losses on ISIL in the attack.

Well-informed sources said earlier on Saturday that the army’s recent advances in Eastern Aleppo to capture Maskana have left the ISIL with no other option but to pull the remaining pockets of its forces back towards Raqqa province.