Syrian Army flanks the Islamists in southern Aleppo

Jabhat Al-Nusra (Syrian Al-Qaeda group), Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham, and Harakat Nouriddeen Al-Zinki woke up to find themselves flanked in Al-Rashiddeen, as the Syrian Arab Army’s 4th Mechanized Division and their allies launched a massive assault on the northern and southern flanks of this strategic town in Aleppo.

The Syrian Arab Army’s 43rd Brigade of the 4th Mechanized Division – backed by the National Defense Forces (NDF) and the pro-government Palestinian militia “Liwaa Al-Quds” (Jerusalem Brigade) – began their assault on Thursday morning by striking the Islamist rebel defenses at the small village of Al-Hawsh (captured by Nusra the night before), killing several enemy combatants before advancing past Nusra’s first line of defense near Al-Rashiddeen.

In addition to striking Al-Hawsh on the outskirts of Khan Touman, the Syrian Armed Forces continued their military operations inside of Al-Rashiddeen’s 4th and 5th Precincts; these sites were flanked by the Syrian Arab Army’s 4th Mechanized Division and their allies.

The capture of Al-Rashiddeen and Khan Al-Assal would be devastating for the Islamist rebels in west Aleppo, as they would find themselves flanked once again.