Tensions reach year-long high as Aleppo witnesses heavy clashes

Tensions inside the Aleppo Governorate have reached a year-long high after a recent string of attacks by the jihadist rebels forced the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) to redeploy several units to the front-lines in the province.

According to a military source in the provincial capital, the Syrian Arab Army and jihadist rebels of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham have been involved in a series of intense clashes that first began on Wednesday, when the latter fired several artillery shells towards the government positions in the southwestern part of Aleppo.

The clashes would then spread to the provincial capital after the jihadist rebels fired two artillery shells towards the New Aleppo District.

The Syrian Arab Army would respond with a barrage of artillery shells of their own, prompting a fierce exchange that lasted for a short while last night.

In the past, the Syrian Arab Army had warned the jihadist rebels that they would be launching a big military operation if they did not withdraw from the Al-Zahra’a Association Quarter.

The jihadist rebels refused to leave the Al-Zahra’a Quarter and continued their hostilities against the Syrian Army troops near the Air Force Intelligence building.

With the continued attacks by the jihadist rebels on Aleppo, the Syrian Arab Army will likely inform the Russian forces about their intentions to begin a new operation.