Administration. All remains the same.
Scenario Turn 2.
Christmas Day to 1 January.
R+6 elements have continued to eliminate pockets of jihadi/unicorn resistance in the Damascus region with many former opposition fighters accepting government pardons and amnesty. Those not willing to do so have been bussed north into Idlib Province. Most of the 5th Assault Corps of the SAA moved north into Hama Directorate after 25 December and attacked to eliminate the Rastan Pocket just north of Homs. By 1 January the pocket was largely gone and the 5th Corps had deployed most of its forces northward to the southern border of Idlib Province where they were positioned by New Year's Eve.
Evacuations from east Aleppo had largely ended by New Year's Eve with UN observer parties wandering about searching for mass graves in east Aleppo and getting drunk at New Year's Eve parties in the nightclubs of the western part of the city.
YPG/SDF forces captured the Tabqa dam on the Euphrates River on the day after Christmas.
Deir al-Zor remained firmly in government hands having been reinforced with air delivered supplies and equipment.
The newly promoted Tiger Force Commander, Fareeq (LTG) Suheil al-Hassan was seen in the streets of Aleppo in the days immediately following Christmas leading many to conclude that the reports of his troops (Tiger Forces and Desert Hawks) having remained in the Damascus area were a ruse de guerre.
The day after Christmas jihadi forces attempted to take the two Shia villages of Kafraya and al-Fu'a just north of Idlib City by storm. They were repulsed after hours of fighting with losses on both sides. Russian airborne engineers were airlifted into the villages the next day as well as Hizbullah and IRGC troops to bolster the defenses of the two villages. The engineers have used farm vehicles and explosives to demolish a number of roadside buildings along the 4700 ft. stretch of straight road between the villages. This road is in use as of New Year's Eve as an improvised airstrip for STOL aircraft and helicopters.
SOHR in London has been reporting in late December that Russian Spetznaz and Hizbullah raiding and reconnaissance parties have been engaged in acts of assassination of local jihadi leaders all over Idlib Province and in several cases have left messages pinned to the bodies designed to implicate rival jihadi groups in the area. Among the places raided was the area between the old Taftanaz air base east of the two Shia villages and the national M5 highway a few miles east of the air base.
Near the Bab al-Hawa border crossing three Turkish border guards were abducted the day after Christmas. They were found hanging from telephone poles on the Syrian side of the line. On the chest of the senior man was pinned a note in Turkish, Arabic and Russian that read "Measure for Measure."
It was reported on SANA on New Year's Eve that it is the opinion of the R+6 allies that the jihadis/the unicorns and their foreign supporters are merely stalling for time with talk of nation wide cease fires and negotiations and that the stalling is just an attempt to gain time to consolidate jihadi power in Idlib Province. SANA stated that the Syrian Government and its friends would act in accordance with this belief.
New Year's Day.
Coordinated concentric attacks began at Beginning Morning Nautical Twilight (BMNT) all around the perimeter of Idlib Province:
1. East from Lattakia in the direction of Jisr al-Shugur. The Syrian Marines seem to be the lead element, but there are reports of Russian armor with them.
2. North by 5th Assault Corps in the general direction of Idlib City. Initial priority of supporting fires seems to be tasked to them.
3. All around the western and NW perimeters of the government positions at Aleppo City, attacks began en echelon from south to north in a series of rolling offensives apparently designed to draw jihadi attention and reserves toward the north. R+6 forces have had some success in all these attacks. Khan Touman on the M5 highway fell to the Republican Guard at 1000 AM. Souhail's mobile reserve remained unlocated and uncommitted by the end of the day.
Russian air activity remained heavy throughout the day.
Requirement. State your opinion as to the likely development of game action in the period beginning 2 January to 10 January. pl &TTG