DAMASCUS, SYRIA (8:05 P.M.) – After a weeklong lull in eastern Aleppo, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) finally broke through Islamic State fortifications on Monday, advancing within striking range of the imperative Jirah Airbase near Lake Assad.
Resuming its counter-insurgency operations on Monday morning, the SAA imposed full control over the villages of Atshanat Al-Miri and Al-Idrisiyah after prolonged skirmishes forced an ISIS contingent to withdraw from the area, located directly north of Jirah Airbase.
The Tiger Forces neutralized over 20 ISIS insurgents amid the renewed push while dozens of jihadist militants were forced to withdraw to the nearby airfield.
Should the SAA complete its pincer around the aforementioned airport, ISIS combattants will be left no other option but to withdraw from the facility.
Jirah Airbase has not been under government control since early 2013; its capture would represent a symbolic victory for the Syrian Government.
Despite being largely overrun in western Raqqa, ISIS still boasts a large jihadist fighting force, clawing on to its last stretch of land in Aleppo province.
A high-resolution map of eastern Aleppo is available here.
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