The map depicts the situation on the North Aleppo frontline after the recent gains of Turkish-backed militant groups against ISIS. They have seized al-Ra‘, the village of Mulla Ya’qub and the neraby border-crossing. Al-Rai is an important logistic hub for illegal cross-border smuggling of foreign fighters and supplies to Syria.
The developments came amid the reports that Kurdish YPG units are preparing for an advance on the city of Manjib in North Aleppo.
Pro-Turkey militants attempt to expand its presence in the border region in order to prevent the Kurdish attempts to build a united anclave in Northern Syria. In this case, the important thing is who will be able to seize the strategic city of Jarabulus which is another important stronghold at the border.
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Map by archicivilians