Click to see the full-size map
The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and the Tiger Forces have liberated 12 more villages and deployed within only about 2km from the strategic Abu al-Duhur airbase in southern Idlib, the Hezbollah media wing in Syria reported on January 10.
According to the report, government forces liberated the villages of Aziziyah, Abyad, Ras Al-Ain, Rasm Niyas, Uwayjah, Buwaydir, Umm Tamakh, Rifiyah, Bayaah Kabirah, Bayaah Sagirah, Qawlat Buwaydir and Rasm al-Jahash from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) and its allied militant group.
Meanwhile, reports appeared that militants started retreating HayJabal al-Hass, Rasm al-Nayyad, al-Aziziyah, Jubb al-Abyad and other nearby areas in southern Aleppo amid the collapse of their counterparts in Idlib province. Furthermore, the SAA had allegedly captured Abo Ruwayl and Maqbara south of Aleppo.
If confirmed, this will indicate that the militant defense is collapsing across the entire frontline west of the Aleppo-Khansir-Ithriyah highway.
May I ask that after all this time, you stop writing:
“Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda)”
and just put:
“Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)”
It drives me bloody mad, similar to IS formally ISIS, ISIL, AQ Offshoot etc.
Anyway, apart from that; excellent news, cheers.
“It drives me bloody mad” that SF is reminding their readers what the roots of these terrorists are. These groups keep changing their names to hide the fact that they are rooted in al-Qaeda the most vile militants and terrorists of the past decades. Thank you SF to keep reminding us and in particular newcomers to this site of the facts they are trying to disguise!
I wasn’t being rude and it says that it drives ME mad, nothing more. I know it is probably a good thing to do, but after I have seen it so many times, it, well….
Fair play though, you are indeed correct.
I understand your frustration but consider this: Nusra tryed to rebrand itself into HTS hoping that with time people might forget who they are and in time they may appear as “rebels”, “opposition” etc. That would not work with thinking people but works well with brainwashed crowd. Repeating time after time who they really are is just a countermeasure even if it’s a bit annoying.
They are al-Qaida, the same group that attacked the world trade center and the Pentagon in 2001. Their leadership destroyed, they now fight under Saudi pay.
Oh, I know who they are, it is just all their past names that drive me mad for some silly reason. Cheers
hey, Abu Islam! this is good info for new readers.
russians already destroyed this airfield. not important anymore.