The city of Aleppo erupted in violence yesterday when the Harakat ‘Ahrar Al-Sham (Movement for the Liberation of the Levant) militants bombarded the Ashrafiyya Quarter with an array of mortar shells and rockets. Following the attack, firefights broke out between the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and members of ‘Ahrar Al-Sham on the outskirts of the Ashrafiyya, leading to heavy casualties for both forces. The SAA thwarted another militant infiltration attempt early this afternoon, killing 16 confirmed members of ‘Ahrar Al-Sham.
Perhaps the most violent clashes took place in southern Aleppo, where the SAA continues its offensive against the militants of the Islamic Front (Jabhat Al-Islamiyya) in the Al-‘Amariyya District. Yesterday, the SAA killed Khaled Al-‘Amouri, the leader of “Bayaaraq Al-Islam” – an ‘Ahrar Al-Sham militia – and 24 of his fighters in an ambush near the Sheikh Sa’eed District. Al-‘Amouri was a prominent member of ‘Ahrar Al-Sham and a veteran fighter for the rebels in Syria.
In the Kafr Hamra and Hareetan Districts, the Syrian Air Force launched 14 airstrikes today, targeting militant movements and positions in these areas. The majority of these airstrikes were conducted before sunrise and they ended shortly before 8 A.M.
South of Al-‘Amariyya, Islamic Front militants targeted the National Defense Forces (NDF) at the Al-Ramouseh District; however, they were repelled after an initial breach of the NDF’s frontline defenses. According to a military source, 9 NDF fighters were reportedly killed during the firefight, while over a dozen Islamic Front fighters were lost.
Firefights were also reported in the following areas: Bastan Al-Qaseer, Al-Layramoun, Bani Zayd, Kafr Hamra, Handarat, and Hanano.
Identified Islamic Fighters killed today:
1. ‘Umar Al-Jaffal
2. Mustafa Abu Mou’az
3. Ahmad Mohammad Al-Jazrawi
4. ‘Issam Monajad ‘Abdel-Lahaam
5. Mohammad ‘Abdullah Al-Sa’eed
6. ‘Usama ‘Ezzeldeen ‘Attar
7. Hassan ‘Umran Ism’aaeel
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