Following up on a series of gains on Friday, Jaish al-Fateh claimed its assault troops stormed the previously untouched 3000 Apartment Project after fully capturing the neighbouring 1070 Apartment Complex just hours earlier.
Attacking from its southern axis across the M5 highway, Islamist rebels – spearheaded by a Turkistan Islamic Party suicide bombing – entered the 3000 Apartment Project under a massive smoke screen. Fierce urban clashes are ongoing as we speak although the majority of the suburb is still under government control.
Massive Jaish al-Fateh suicide bombings in #Aleppo today. pic.twitter.com/aOdnxRsxNd
— Chris Tomson (@TheDaneChris) October 28, 2016
Confirmed to be involved in the offensive are Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra), Ahrar al-Sham, the Turkistan Islamic Party, Ajnad al-Sham, and Faylaq al-Sham.
With Islamist rebels tearing apart the SAA’s frontline in western Aleppo, their forces are moving ever closer to the densely populated New Aleppo districts. Upwards of 1,500,000 civilians live in government-held western Aleppo.
The strategic aim of Jaish al-Fateh’s offensive is to break the siege of rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo, home to approximately 200,000 civilians and some 9,000 Islamist militants. Only 2500 meters set these rebel-held areas apart.
Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin declined to resume the Russian Air Force’s airstrikes over Aleppo city, citing the need for a humanitarian pause. Russian Lieutenant General Sergey Rudskoy had otherwise requested Russian airstrikes to counteract Jaish al-Fateh’s offensive.
Despite the lack of Russian aerial support, local SAA commanders are now drawing up military plans to reverse their losses.
Loads of Jaish al-Fateh tanks and fighters enter al-Assad district in #Aleppo. pic.twitter.com/cQOOOGCqar
— Chris Tomson (@TheDaneChris) October 28, 2016
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