Opposition factions thwart regime's attack in Aleppo countryside

The Syrian opposition factions thwarted an infiltration attempt by the regime forces and Iran-backed militias in northern Aleppo, military sources told Zaman al-Wasl.

 

 The factions of the Al-Fateh Al-Mubeen Operations Room managed to repel an infiltration attempt by two groups of regime forces and allied militias near the town of Basraton in the western countryside of Aleppo.

 

The regime forces and Iranian militias stationed in the town of Saraqib, east of Idlib province, have also intensified bombing rebel-held areas in eastern Idlib province. No casualties were reported.

 

On Sunday afternoon, the regime forces had tried to infiltrate the points of the National Liberation Front near the al-Ruwaiha front in the Jabal al-Zawiya area. The attempt was thwarted.

 

On Saturday, Russian forces conducted over 20 airstrikes in northern Syria, some of which reached the vicinity of displacement camps near the Syrian-Turkish border, the Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported.

 

The Russian strikes targeted the province of Idlib and Aleppo's countryside as they hit areas inside Syria's de-escalation zone, according to local activists. 

 

The Russian escalation is believed to be a response to Turkish threats against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, as Russian strikes could prompt a wave of displacement towards Ankara, Abu Yazan Al-Shami, a former leader in the '1st Coastal Division' opposition group, told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

 

This comes amid concern surrounding increased attacks on Syrian refugee camps after one child was killed by the regime and Russian bombings on a camp for widows in Northern Idlib on Wednesday, according to the White Helmets.

 

Opposition-held areas in northern Syria are home to 3.5 million civilians, according to the United Nations. 

 

Although Moscow, staunch supporters of the Syrian regime, and Ankara, supporters of the Syrian opposition, back opposing sides in the bloody war, the countries previously worked together to broker the 2020 ceasefire agreement in Idlib.

 

The ten-year-old conflict has killed more than 500,000 people and displaced 7 million.

(With the New Arab)