Overview of Military Situation in Syria on August 23

Damascus

Intense clashes erupted between the Syrian army and the Jaysh al-Islam militant group in the Eastern Ghouta region near the Syrian capital, Damascus. Militants attacked the Syrian army’s positions in northern Jobar using a system of undeground tunnels in the area. Syrian warplanes were supporting the Syrian army with air strikes in the ongoing clashes.

Aleppo Province

The Turkish military conducted some 40 artillery strikes on the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), that operate under the brand of “Syrian Democratic Forces”, north of the city of Manbij. Separately, Turkish military continued to shell ISIS positions near the ISIS-controlled border town of Jarablus in a move that experts describe as pretext for a cross-border attack of Turkish-backed militants on this strategic town.

We remind on August 22, the YPG seized some villages south of Manbij.

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In the area of Aleppo city, Harakat Nour al-Din al-Zenki announced creation of a humanitarian corridor to the Sheikh Maqsood neigborhood controlled by the YPG. The move came amid the deteorations of the relations between the YPG and the Syrian government.

Meanwhile, the Syrian army and Hezbollah attacked Jaish al-Fatah militants at the Technical College in southern Aleppo. Clashes are ongoing.

Hama Province

Syrian warplanes hit suply convoys and positions of Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (formerly the al-Nusra Front) near al-Zara in southern Hama. Pro-government sources report about tens of casualties among the terrorists.

Hasakah Province

ISIS launched an offensive on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in al-Shadadi, capturing Kashksh, Jabour, the Safia hill and engaging SDF units inside al-‘Azawi. ISIS also claimed control of al-Hamadat.

Meanwhile, the situation remains unclear in the city of Hasakah where the Kurdish forces are clashing with the pro-government militias. On August 22, there were reports that the sides at least set up a ceasefire agreement. However, on August 23, the clashes continued in some parts of the city.