After finishing years of fighting in the hugely important north Syrian city of Aleppo in December, the Syrian government has looked to solidify its control over the surrounding area in recent months, seizing over 150 towns and villages in the vicinity in the period that followed.
This effort continues today, with Syrian forces, backed by Hezbollah and Russian artillery, capturing another 9 villages in the area around Deir Hafer, a town east of Aleppo and south of Manbij. ISIS is said to retain Deir Hafer itself, and also has tentative control over nearby al-Jarrah airbase, though that has exchanged hands a few times recently.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the villages became the target after the most recent attempt to push into al-Jarrah began to fail. This appears in keeping with the government’s recent strategy of always trying to increase gains, even if they aren’t necessarily the gains initially sought.
This area, the southeastern part of Aleppo Province, appears effectively to be contested just between Syrian forces and ISIS, with Syrian government control of the area south of al-Bab preventing Turkey from launching any expansions further south, and Kurdish forces further east focusing on Raqqa.
“ISIS is said to retain Deir Hafer itself”
Excuse me? IS is “said” to retain Deir Hafer???? The town is their main stronghold in SE Aleppo province, and has been since 2013…. Seriously….
Yes, the town itself is under IS control, and has been as you say for a long time. But I think Jason is correct in observing the tenuous nature of their prospects in controlling the area. Syrian forces have been opportunistic and are consolidating gains. But where I believe the reasoning is flawed is in motivation of various actors. The APPEARANCE of motives and intentions should never be trusted. There are already ton of examples. When Turkey entered Syria, cutting of Kurdish de facto control of border area, and knocking off a string of ISIS held villages, farms and border townships — it enabled Syria to take Aleppo. Turkey plugged the supply routes to Allepo through rebel held areas, and stopped dead the ISIS smugglers and their Kurdish enablers to freely ship in anything they required from PKK Kurds on the other side. And those Kurds on Turkish side of border that were opposing this flouriishing business with ISIS — by a few bombings as a message. Not only that — but by taking under its wing all the remnants of Free Syria Army, it prevented thise militants to opt for Al-Nusra patronage, and fighting on their side. Turkey gave them better deal. Their real enemy are Kutds that had no problem with ISIS — and ethnically cleansed Arab and Turkmmen towns and villages with impunity. Thus — Turkey did not join in the sobbing in Western capitals when Aleppo was liberated. Syrian Army advancing to the south of Al-Bab, allowed Turkey to finally beat ISIS and liberate town. It tried three times before — but ISIS had the depth to flank Turkish forces, ambush and retreat. With Syrian Army taking away that space, Turkey prevailed. Tutkish control of the region now allows Syrian army to expand control over Aleppo region. It has no worries of offensives by FSA
or ISIS reinforcement. Take Manbij. Turkey would like Syrian forces to control it — not PYD. And in fact — a compromise is in the works. Kurds gave up Manbij countryside AND part of the town to Syrian army. Russian mine sweepers are cleanung up that part of town. US detachment has forced Kurds to give up the city control to its Arab partners in Syrian Democratic Forces. Most of the moves by Turkey, Russia and Syria have been mutually complimentary. In one case of open demonstration of joint action — Turkish and Russian planes flew together in operations over Al-Bab.
The only obstacle today to tackling ISIS — is the rethinking on behalf of US — which is understandable. US targeting Al-Qaeda in Idlib — causing many casualties in the nearby mosque, is a sign that the heros of Aleppo are not protected by US. Which makes one think — who is? Just like Al-Qaeda in Yemen. Who are their protectors and financiers? Saudi Arabia is an obvious choice, but it has another partner there. If not US, who? UK is sweet on Al_Nusra in Syria, but is it allso a partner to Saudi Arabia in Yemen? UK ysed to control the port of Aden once. Would that be the motivation for inserting Al-Qaeda into Yemeni south, region not at war with Saudi forces — but a region bent in separating from North Yemen.