One month ago, the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) looked all but done with their offensives in the Aleppo Governorate, as their defeat at the border-city of Kobane (‘Ayn Al-‘Arab) was an imperative victory for the predominately Kurdish “People’s Protection Units” after a one month long siege that spread panic across the international community.
Following the YPG’s counter-offensive at Kobane, ISIS began to lose significant ground to the Kurdish force and the small contingent from the Free Syrian Army (FSA) in northeastern Aleppo, leaving many to believe that the strategic border-crossing from Tal Abyad into Turkey was in jeopardy for the terrorist group; this became reality when the YPG began their offensive to capture this border-crossing in the beginning of May.
Suddenly in the month of May – after a five month hiatus – ISIS reemerged in the countries of Syria and Iraq, capturing the provincial capital of the Al-‘Anbar Governorate at Al-Ramadi (Iraq) and the ancient city of Palmyra in the Homs Governorate (Syria); this resulted in the terrorist group’s rapid spread across both countries in a matter of days.
ISIS has not stopped there, the terrorist group has launched simultaneous offensives at the Sheikh Najjar Industrial District, Kuweries Military Airport, and the border-cities of Mar’e and ‘Azaz in the Aleppo Governorate; however, despite minimal gains in the beginning of these offensives, the militants from ISIS have captured the strategic town of Sawran near ‘Azaz and Mar’e, while also cutting off the Levantine Front (Jabhat Al-Shamiyah) from their supply route to the Aleppo Infantry School.
While the news at Tal Abyad has been uplifting for many observers of this Syrian Conflict, ISIS’ recent gains near the integral border-crossing at ‘Azaz has equaled the playing field for the terrorist group, as they have steadily advanced across the Levantine Front’s frontline defenses at the eastern flank.
What does this mean? Well, one thing is for sure, the Levantine Front and the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” have committed too many resources to combat the Syrian Armed Forces and not enough men to fend off a powerful attack from the militants of ISIS on this front.
