Translation by Yusra Ahmed
(Zaman Al Wasl)- The Islamic State extremist group (ISIS) started to withdraw forces from Aleppo’s countryside to reinforce territory it controls east Syria as Iraqi forces plan to launch a major ground offensive, source said Sunday.
ISIS is getting ready to withdraw from Aleppo’s countryside: al-Bab and its countryside, Minbij and countryside and Jarablus and countryside, to regions under the Islamic State’s control in Maskana, Deir Hafer in Aleppo’s countryside which are close to Raqqa’s countryside, a well-informed source told Zaman al-Wasl.
The recent developments, according to sources, may confirm the latest news about the crises inside the Islamic state, financially, man-powerfully and structurally, especially with the news about the Iraqi troop to launch a ground offense to return swathes of the country seized by the Islamic State.
The special sources mentioned that the Islamic State has started dismantling the electricity generators and other equipments from building they occupied in Akhtrin and other villages, besides moving its heavy arms and families of fighters from Aleppo’s countryside to the new regions, which implies that withdrawal is just a step away.
It is noticed that ISIS has started yesterday shelling rebels heavily in North Aleppo’s countryside, maybe to distract others from the withdrawal.
The withdrawal process would be gradual and over many steps, and would start with fighters going back from Akhtrin town and surrounding villages, to Aleppo’s North Countryside.
“it seems that Islamic State is suffering of shortage in fighters as a result of the heavy air strike of the U.S.-led coalition, besides the inner disagreements, defections and running away the state is experiencing, which explains the tendency of the state to move fighters to the Eastern region of Syria, to restrict loses in so many fronts, and to be the main and maybe the last stronghold” sources explain.
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