Liberation of Idlib Province soon?

 

"Key formations of the Syrian Arab Army – many of them elite outfits – are gathering strength on the front-lines of northern Hama and western Aleppo in preparation for a massive operation to lift the siege on two key Shi’ite villages deep inside rebel-held Idlib Governorate.

According to reports, most of the Syrian Army’s elite Tiger Forces detachments, under the direct supervision of their top commander Suheil al-Hassan, have arrived in northern Hama Governorate.

At the same time, other first-rate Syrian Army formations (not specified) have arrived on the western Aleppo frontier.

The general understanding is that the Syrian Army will conduct a multi-prong offensive via both fronts with forces in the northern Hama attempting to reach the strategic town of Khan Sheikhoun in southern Idlib Governorate and those in western Aleppo advancing to lift the siege on two key Shi’ite towns – Fouaa and Kafriyah – located in central Idlib, just north of the provincial capital.

With the Syrian Army still rushing reinforcements to both Hama and Aleppo, the actual date for the commencement of this ambitious offensive against armed militant groups in Idlib is still not clear."  AMN

---------------

Perhaps this reflects an elaborate deception plan carried out to distract attention from the east, perhaps.

OTOH, the plan reflected by indicators in this report would be devastating to the AQ affiliates (HTS primarily) in the province.  Action needs to be taken soon.  The jihadis have begun to probe the western approaches to Aleppo City and that must be decisevely ended so that a return to real life can continue in the city.

HTS has been moving forces north to confront a threatened Turkish advance into Idlib across the Hatay border supposedly in execution of the de-escalation agreement negotiated at Astana.  Perhaps this Turkish build-up is part of the putative deception plan, perhaps.

If there is really to be a drive into Idlib Province it will be instructive to see if the US and Israelis try to help their little jihadi friends.  pl 

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/elite-syrian-forces-build-hama-aleppo-push-lift-siege-shiite-villages-idlib/

Comments

[Ishmael Zechariah]

Sam,
Thanks for the link. May the earth rest lightly on General Asapov.He was a soldier.
Ishmael Zechariah

[mike]

James -

You say "the usa has no business being in Syria ..."

Surprise, surprise, I agree with that statement.

However, that does not mean that you and I or anyone else should be gullible enough to believe Russian and Syrian Agitprop that claim we are supporting Daesh when we are doing exactly the opposite - blowing them into smithereens. We have also attacked al-Quaeda in Syria whenever we had hard intel on them.

[mike]

Aleksandar -

al-Zinki are headchoppers and were also involved in kidnapping and torturing journalists and aid workers in Aleppo.

The Turks provided the training, not the US. The group is named after a historical Turkish figure who ruled Aleppo, and all of Syria eight to nine hundred years ago. Yes the CIA did give them some funds way back before their true colors were known. This was done at the urging of the Saudis and the Turks, who some dumbass in CIA thought was good vetting.

[mike]

It appears that the helo was Syrian, not Russian:

https://twitter.com/QalaatAlMudiq/status/913355075195678721

Any video available of the incident? The Gazelle that was taken out last year had already landed.

Jash al-Izza did get some TOWs from Saudi stocks, and that deal was most probably brokered by the CIA.

BTW - TOWs are also manufactured in Egypt and Iran, not just the US.

[Red Cloud]

"No race for the oilfields"

The SDF has already taken the Conoco oil fields. Try to keep up

[Red Cloud]

The oil provides an economic base for a Kurdish state, so yes it is very important.

[Babak Makkinejad]

There is insufficient oil for any Kudish State.

[Thirdeye]

How would a landlocked state with all land routes blocked by hostile powers turn oil into revenue?

[mike]

Red Cloud -

They are gas fields not oil. Totally destroyed infrastructure there BTW. Inoperable.