The commander of the 16th Division of the US-backed Free Syrian Army and his assistants resigned from their positions for “medical reasons”. This armed faction is the main force combatting the Syrian Army in the Bani Zaid and Khaldiyah districts of Aleppo City.
All orders, positions, and ranks given by the old commander prior to his resignation are to be canceled. The militants of the opposition group are now on standby awaiting for new orders.
The high command of Division 16 most likely abandoned their position after suffering heavy blows on the Layramoun/Khaldiyah axis in terms of equipment and manpower. Unable to stop the advance of the elite 4th Mechanized Division, the commander most likely escaped to Turkey along with his assistants.
The new command structure and the fate of the brigade and its units remain unknown. It is very likely that this event will lead to the total disbanding of the brigade. Its troops will either defect to other armed factions or escape to Turkey. In either case, the Syrian Army will be able to continue advancing in Layramoun and Bani Zaid at an accelerated pace strengthening the siege on the rebel-held districts of Aleppo City.
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