The Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” is on the fourth day of their offensive in Aleppo City, where they seek to take control of the Old Aleppo and New Aleppo Quarters in the suburban neighborhoods of this provincial capital in northern Syria.
The militants from Jabhat Al-Nusra achieved little to no success in the New Aleppo Quarter and the heavily fortified neighborhoods of Al-Suleimaniyeh, Al-Hamidiyeh, Al-‘Aziziyeh, and Maysaloun; this was a result of the Syrian Arab Air Force’s Hind Helicopters targeting the vast majority of enemy combatants attempting to enter.
According to a military source, New Aleppo and the predominately Armenian neighborhoods in this area are protected by not only the Syrian Arab Army, but also, the civilian-led “National Defense Forces.”
However, the Old Aleppo Quarter was a different story on Thursday, as Jabhat Al-Nusra – in coordination with Jaysh Al-Mujahiddeen and Jabhat Al-Shamiya – were able to progress towards the Aleppo Citadel, capturing parts of the main road leading to this historical site.
The Old Aleppo battle has turned into the most violent front for both the Syrian Armed Forces and the Islamist groups, as both parties continue to exchange rounds of gunfire and a multitude of mortars and rockets – there is no update on the number of casualties from either side.
Sources close to Al-Masdar News have reported fierce clashes this morning at the Bab Al-Hadeed and Bab Al-Nisr neighborhoods in Aleppo City – no further details were given.
While Jabhat Al-Nusra and their allies do not control Old Aleppo, they do have a much larger presence in this historical Quarter after their successful infiltration.
There has been a large media blackout in Aleppo City due to the absence of electricity and internet services.
