The Syrian army’s artillery is shelling ISIS positions at the village of Tadef in merely 3 km from the ISIS stronghold of al-Bab in the Syrian province of Aleppo. Artillery strikes against ISIS units were also reportd in the nearby village of Aran.
These developments indicate that government forces are likely going to retake these villages located south of the ISIS stronghold and to cut it off from the rest of the ISIS-controlled area in the province of Aleppo.
Last weekend, the Syrian army’s Tiger Forces liberated the villages of al-Brije, Sheikh Dan, Mushayrifa and Tuman south and southwest of al-Bab. Within two weeks, the Tiger Forces and the NDF had liberated over 25 villages in the area.
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I hope that the SAA is the one that actually takes Al Bab and doesn’t merely set it up for the Turks to take the prize. This demonstrates that the SAA and units like the Tiger brigade are among the best fighting units in the M.E. having gained valuable fighting experience on their own, unlike the Iraqi security forces who have been coddled.