Syrian Army Opens New Front to Hit ISIL’s Defense Lines in Aleppo

The sources said that the army soldiers began targeting ISIL’s positions along the entire frontier East of the Aleppo supply road, adding that following fresh gains by the Tiger Forces in the Maskana Plains, the forces of the 30th Division of the Republican Guard headed from the provincial capital to the Khanasser Plains, looking to slice adrift ISIL’s territory in Southeastern Aleppo.

The Republican Guard is yet to begin large-scale storming operations and is currently gathering information and intel on ISIL positions.

Relevant reports said on Thursday that the army continued military operations in Eastern Aleppo to drive terrorists out of the province, blitzing in three fronts to recapture the town of Maskana as the ISIL last bastion.

The Syrian soldiers could retake control of the village of al-Far in the Southwestern parts of Maskana after clashes with the ISIL terrorists.

Based on field reports, Maskana was encircled by pro-gov’t forces via the Northern, Western and Eastern directions.

Also, the Syrian army’s front line positions overlook Maskana-Tabaqa-Raqqa road which was the only remaining way for the ISIL militants to withdraw from the strategic town.

Other reports from Eastern Aleppo also said that a large number of ISIL members fled Maskana to save their lives, adding that they planted dozens of landmines in the region to slow down the Syrian army’s advance and the town’s collapse.