Ahmed Al-Ahmad, Ahmad Al-Ali, Baladi News, Aleppo
Battels of the southern countryside of Aleppo are considered one of the most ferocious ongoing battles in Aleppo and its countryside in particular, and in Syria in general as the southern countryside of Aleppo is the biggest area for the gathering of Shiite, Iraqi, Lebanese, and Iranian militias. They have seized control, during the past months and after Russian's intervention in Syria, over the most parts of the southern countryside of Aleppo which is considered the weakest point for the rebels as being marginalized due to the factions' preoccupation with fighting "ISIS" which was exploited by the militias to advance aiming at reaching the towns of AL-Fu'ah and Kafraya in the countryside of Idlib.
After the previous advancement, Jaish Al-Fatah has transferred his forces to the southern countryside of Aleppo and started its military operations in liberating Al-Eis town, then Khan Tuman and AL- Khalidiya. During the last two weeks, Al-Sham legion and Jaish Al-Fatah have liberated very important villages including: Al-Karasi, Al-Kalajia, Al-Humera, and Moaratah reaching the towns of Khalsa, Zaeitan and Branah despite the existence of hundreds of mercenaries sent by Iranian militias in addition to the Russian warplanes' back-up which are launching dozens of airstrikes using cluster and phosphorous bombs on a daily basis.
The militias suffered heavy losses in human lives, where dozens of Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Hezbollah, Al-Najba'a Iraqi movement and Fatemeoun Afghani brigade were killed in the two-months battles, the harshest of which was the battel of liberating Khan Tuman and Khalsa. It should be noted that the rebels have captured more than 20 members of the militias, the last of which was an Iranian member who was trying with his team to advance towards the town of Moaratah.
Abu Al-Homam, a leader in Jaish Al-Fatah said: "The Russian and Iranian are aware that the battels in the southern countryside of Aleppo are decisive; losing such battels mean defeating and preventing them from advancing and breaking the siege of Al-Fu'ah and Kafraya in the countryside of Idlib, which they were planning to reach".
Strategic Importance
In his turn, the dissident colonel pilot, Mustafa Bakour, said "the importance of the liberated areas by the rebels, especially Khalsa come from its position as it's located on two high hills that govern large areas of the southern countryside of Aleppo, Aleppo-Damascuc International road and Al-Eis hill".
He added in an interview with Baladi news that whoever controls Al-Eis hill will have the upper hand in controlling the supplying ways to western and eastern Aleppo, and consequently, can dramatically tighten the siege on Aleppo from the southern front.
He pointed out that they will regain control of the areas they lost, especially after the attack on the Iranian militias, by launching a counterattack to regain such areas.
He also indicated that the rebels have to devote their attention to geometric preparation; digging trenches, fortifications and minefields as well as keeping the enemy away from these areas as much as possible through developing the attack towards Al-Hadir in the east and Al-Wodaihi in the north, consequently, the enemy moves to defend the artillery college, the military academy, and the art school as being significant military points where sectarian militias gather. Therefore, the regime and its allies will adjourn any action to regain Khalsa and its surroundings till it finishes ensuring its launching pads in the previously mentioned areas".
AlBakour went on saying: "Khalsa is a town with a very important strategic location overlooking Aleppo-Damascus international road and many villages liberated recently by the rebels. After its liberation, the towns of Branah and Zietan fell automatically and will be followed by Al-Hadir, while the battels will move to Al-Howeiz and Al-Wodaihi reaching the main entrance of Aleppo".
He concluded that developing the attack is one of the best choices to the rebels to maintain the areas they controlled and consequently keeping their gains through this wave of battels which is considered decisive for Aleppo and which the regime is seeking to besiege and reoccupy them.