Air strikes kill at least four people in rebel-held areas of Homs and Douma, a day after deadly attack on army officers.

The Syrian government has launched attacks on rebel-held areas around several cities, including Homs and Damascus suburb, according to opposition activists and a monitor.

One person was killed in the Damascus suburb of Douma and three in the al-Waer neighbourhood of Homs in Sunday's air strikes, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), while shells and rockets were used in Deraa and Idlib provinces.

"Today's escalation began in the early afternoon with repeated air strikes," said Bebars al-Talawy, an activist based in al-Waer.

SOHR, a Britain-based monitor, said that in addition to the air strikes, al-Waer was being shelled.

The development came a day after the government-held part of Homs was subjected to multiple suicide attacks.

Also on Sunday, according to Syrian state media and monitors, the Syrian government forces seized the town of Tadef from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group on the outskirts of the northern city of Al Bab that is already under the control of Turkish-backed rebels.

"We will continue war on terrorist organisations whatever their names until security and stability are restored to every inch of the Syrian lands," the army said in a statement, according to the state news agency SABA.

SOHR reported that the government forces and allies entered Tadef just hours after ISIL, also known as ISIS, withdrew from there.

By taking ISIL territory south of Al Bab, the forces of President Bashar al-Assad is preventing any possible move by Turkey and the rebel groups it supports to expand southwards, and is moving closer to regaining control of water supplies for Aleppo.

Earlier this month, a senior Russian official said Tadef marked an agreed dividing line between the Syrian army and the Turkey-backed forces.

The eastward advance south of Tadef has extended Syrian army control across 14 villages and brought it within 25km of Lake Assad, the stretch of the Euphrates above the Tabqa dam.

The Syrian army and its allies also made a new advance against ISIL around Palmyra, coming to within a few miles of the ancient desert city that the group recaptured in December, according to SOHR and the government-controlled Syrian Central Military Media.

The SOHR said the government now controls hills that oversee three gas fields west of Palmyra.

Elsewhere in Syria, Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, a rebel group previously known as al-Nusra Front, killed and injured dozens of government forces on Sunday in an attack near the Lebanese border, according to SOHR.

The attack by Levant Liberation Body - part of al-Sham - targeted government positions in the northwestern part of rural Damascus, the SOHR said.

Founded in January, the Levant Liberation Body is headed by Jabhat Fatah al-Sham and includes four other groups.</s>Air strikes kill at least four people in rebel-held areas of Homs and Douma, a day after deadly attack on army officers.

The Syrian government has launched attacks on rebel-held areas around several cities, including Homs and Damascus suburb, according to opposition activists and a monitor.

One person was killed in the Damascus suburb of Douma and three in the al-Waer neighbourhood of Homs in Sunday's air strikes, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), while shells and rockets were used in Deraa and Idlib provinces.

"Today's escalation began in the early afternoon with repeated air strikes," said Bebars al-Talawy, an activist based in al-Waer.

SOHR, a Britain-based monitor, said that in addition to the air strikes, al-Waer was being shelled.

The development came a day after the government-held part of Homs was subjected to multiple suicide attacks.

Also on Sunday, according to Syrian state media and monitors, the Syrian government forces seized the town of Tadef from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group on the outskirts of the northern city of Al Bab that is already under the control of Turkish-backed rebels.

"We will continue war on terrorist organisations, whatever their names, until security and stability are restored to every inch of the Syrian lands," the army said in a statement, according to the state news agency SABA.

SOHR reported that the government forces and allies entered Tadef just hours after ISIL, also known as ISIS, withdrew from there.

By taking ISIL territory south of Al Bab, the forces of President Bashar al-Assad is preventing any possible move by Turkey and the rebel groups it supports to expand southwards, and is moving closer to regaining control of water supplies for Aleppo.

Earlier this month, a senior Russian official said Tadef marked an agreed dividing line between the Syrian army and the Turkey-backed forces.

The eastward advance south of Tadef has extended Syrian army control across 14 villages and brought it within 25km of Lake Assad, the stretch of the Euphrates above the Tabqa dam.

The Syrian army and its allies also made a new advance against ISIL around Palmyra, coming to within a few miles of the ancient desert city that the group recaptured in December, according to SOHR and the government-controlled Syrian Central Military Media.

The SOHR said the government now controls hills that oversee three oilfields west of Palmyra.

Elsewhere in Syria, Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, a rebel group previously known as al-Nusra Front, killed and injured dozens of government forces on Sunday in an attack near the Lebanese border, according to SOHR.

The attack by Levant Liberation Body - part of al-Sham - targeted government positions in the northwestern part of rural Damascus, the SOHR said.

Founded in January, the Levant Liberation Body is headed by Jabhat Fatah al-Sham and includes four other groups.</s>I agree

We respect your privacy. Our website is using cookies for 3rd party advertising, analytics, language and user settings. By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies Privacy Policy and Terms of Service</s>Gaziantep - The Turkey-backed Free Syrian army said it will continue to attack regime forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) southeast of their positions in Al Bab following Syrian army advances south of the city.

On Monday, Syrian regime forces advanced southeast of FSA-held Al Bab reaching areas under the control of the SDF. As a result, the FSA factions, part of Turkey's Operation Euphrates Shield, are encircled by regime forces and the US-backed SDF to the east and south and are unable to proceed towards ISIL-held Raqqa, which Ankara had identified as a major goal of its operation.

According to an FSA commander, who spoke to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity, ISIL withdrew from its positions southeast of Al Bab allowing the regime forces to capture 20 villages, including Aran, Al-Barij, and Abu al-Jibar. The regime forces reached SDF-controlled territory in the village of Jub al-Khafi, he said.

The FSA commander added that the establishing of this territorial connection will increase the coordination between the regime forces and the SDF, which will be to the detriment of the FSA.

READ MORE: 'When the tide is turning, ISIL go apocalyptic'

On Monday, an SDF spokesperson told Reuters that the Syrian army's advance would bring benefits to civilians in the area. "On the trade front and on the civilian front, it is seen as an excellent thing, because now there is ... a link between the entire northern rural area," spokesman Talal Silo said.

At the same time, the FSA clashed with Syrian government forces near the village of Tadif, just 2km southeast of Al Bab. It has also continued to clash with the SDF north and west of the city of Manbij, which is under SDF control and which the Turkish government has also identified as a potential target of its operation after the capture of Al Bab from ISIL.

The SDF is dominated by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which Turkey considers a "terrorist" organisation related to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Turkey launched Operation Euphrates Shield in August 2016 to prevent the YPG from uniting territories under its control east and west of the Euphrates River.

Metin Gurcan, an Istanbul-based security analyst, said it is unlikely that Euphrates Shield forces will try to break the territorial bridge between the SDF and the regime forces, as Ankara cannot risk a major confrontation with Assad in advance of the national constitutional referendum scheduled for April. In his opinion, Russia and the United States would also not allow hostilities to escalate between Turkey and the Assad regime.

"The option of advancing toward Raqqa from Al Bab is now gone," said Gurcan, adding that the Turkish government will likely seek to advance against the YPG and SDF in Manbij and to consolidate control over Al Bab. The Turkish military has established a temporary base on Al Aqil hill near Al Bab, which could transform into a more permanent one like the Turkish base in Bashiqa in northeast of Mosul, he said.

In his opinion, the US still needs Turkish participation in the operation to capture Raqqa from ISIL because it cannot rely solely on Kurdish forces.

"The US needs Turkish help because it needs armoured forces to initiate this Raqqa operation […] and the US needs Turkish presence, Sunni presence, not to get a [negative] reaction from the Sunni population in Syria and in the region," explained Gurcan, adding that the presence of Kurdish forces in Raqqa could create tensions with the local Arab population.

In the past few weeks, US officials held multiple consultation meetings with Turkish officials who have expressed their opposition to Kurdish-dominated SDF participating in the offensive on Raqqa. Last week, a top US general visited SDF-held territories in northern Syria promising military support.

On Monday, the Pentagon submitted a proposal to the Trump administration on how to speed up the fight against ISIL in Syria. Based on this proposal, the White House is expected to reveal its plan of action on Syria in the coming days and detail its strategy on capturing Raqqa.</s>The Syrian Army’s Tiger Forces today continued their rapid advancement against ISIS by capturing 3 villages from the terrorist group in eastern Aleppo countryside.

The Syrian Army liberated the villages of Taiha, Halisiyah and Amoudiyah and are currently storming Um Mayal, which is expected to become ISIS-free within the day.

Meanwhile, Turkish-backed forces have attacked the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces-held towns and captured Kiridyah and Jablat Al-Hamra in south-west Manbij countryside from the militia.

Military sources in speaking with Al-Masdar News said that despite Turkish-led forces claiming that they captured Sukariyah Kabirah and Sukariyah Saghirahin, this is not true and the two towns are largely contested and empty from both sides.

Today the Syrian Army shelled turkish-led forces who tried to enter these towns, forcing them to retreat.

Both towns remain empty from the two competing armies.</s>“Nine villages were seized from ISIS on Monday as the Kurdish-led ‘Syrian Democratic Forces’ (SDF) reopened the Manbij front and pushed southwards along the Euphrates River. With ISIS struggling to hold ground in the region, Kurdish forward units took control over the villages of Jurunli, Mahunah, Haymar al-Jays, Judayat al-Faras, Turaykiyat al-Humr, Qibab Kabir, Qibab Saghir, Sakhanah and Arudah with relative ease just hours after the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) also advanced nearby, thus cutting off the frontline territory between ISIS and the Turkish Armed Forces. 



A military source informed Al-Masdar News that the SDF and Manbij Military Council are keen to take control of Al-Khafsa – this town has been fortified by ISIS militants after reaching a frontline stalemate in August 2016 following the liberation of Manbij city.

Remarkably, there are credible reports which indicate cooperation between the SDF and SAA; the latter provided artillery support for the advancing Kurdish forces. The Russian Air Force was also operational in eastern Aleppo tonight, pulverizing a number of Islamic State gun positions.

Earlier today, SDF reinforcements and US military advisors arrived to Manbij. These forces are now spearheading the offensive. A new batch of armored vehicles and technicals were also provided to the SDF.

Al-Khafsa is strategically important as it supplies the provincial capital of Aleppo with water; recently, this facility was shut down by ISIS while the latter flooded some government-held villages in the region. With heavy clashes ongoing on the near perimeter of Al-Khafsa, the town is expected to fall either overnight or tomorrow.” (Al Masdar News)

The last 48 hours have seen a rash of activity east of Aleppo. The SAA’s Tiger Forces raced forward to link up with the YPG south of Manbij on the heels of a large scale tactical withdrawal of IS forces from the al-Bab area. This linkup has put the kibosh on Turkey’s plans to advance towards Raqqa. I wonder if this linkup was anything like that Spring day in April, 1945 near Torgau on the Elbe?

Erdogan has declared that he now intends to take Manbij. Fat chance of that happening. Both FSA and Turkish forces took it on the chin during their assault on al-Bab. Taking on the YPG and Manbij Military Council forces will be a bridge too far, especially since the Kurds have the support of U.S. Special Forces and U.S. airpower.

My guess is the Russians and the SAA have been coordinating this with the YPG for quite some time. They will probably be working together more and more as they roll towards Tabqa and Raqqa. In addition to this military cooperation, the YPG and SAA have already opened up a trade route to secure safe passage of goods and supply trucks. I’m very glad to see this, but at some point the Tiger Forces are going to have to turn their attention to Idlib. Will it be before or after the fall of Raqqa?

I still have a fear that the U.S. wants to create a space for anti-Assad forces in the YPG/SDF controlled area. That would be a stupid, stupid idea. We should largely leave the area to the Kurds and Syrians as soon as we possibly can. Leaving just a few SF teams there, with the permission of the Syrian government would be ideal. They could do a lot in improving our relationship with Syria, Russia and even Iran. I hope McMaster is thinking that far ahead. Of course, Erdogan is likely to pitch such a fit he’s liable to give himself an aneurism.</s>ANKARA: Turkey-backed forces will move towards the northern Syrian town of Manbij after completing their operation in al-Bab as originally planned, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.

In a news conference in Ankara before embarking on an official visit to Pakistan, Erdogan also said the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia - which Turkey regards as a terrorist organisation - should be moved out to the east of the Euphrates river.

Erdogan also ruled out any chance of cooperation with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which includes the Syrian Kurdish militia.</s>On Monday morning, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) captured a new batch of villages in the eastern Aleppo countryside amid fierce clashes with ISIS militants in the region.

The advance was secured solely by the SAA’s Tiger Forces that have now imposed full control over the villages of Zarurah, Jubb al-Sultan, and Jubb al-Hamam.

Yesterday, the SAA captured a handful of villages from ISIS in the region but were mostly preoccupied with fighting off a Turkish Army assault on Tadef. The latter town is still under government control despite some reports to the contrary.

Due to today’s advance, the Tiger Forces are less than 5 kilometers from linking up with the Kurdish-led ‘Syrian Democratic Forces’ (SDF) near Manbij.

Both the SDF and SAA have clashed with the Euphrates Shield forces and ISIS in recent days; thus, a pragmatic alliance may be established.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Army are heavily shelling villages and towns held by the SDF in the region. Artillery strikes are ongoing on Al-Arimah and Sheikh Issa while some reports suggest the Turkish Armed Forces will soon begin an offensive to capture Manbij.</s>WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the country’s armed forces would advance toward Manbij after completing operation in al-Bab.

The move could "have an impact on the coalition campaign plan," Votel said in an interview with Foreign Policy.

The commander noted that the United States is "fully engaged" with Turkey and is trying to work out a solution for northern Syria to make sure that US-backed and Turkish forces do not fight each other.

Safe zones in Syria could operate successfully in the areas that have already been taken under control, Votel said.

The idea of creating safe zones in Syria is "a viable concept," Votel said as quoted by Foreign Policy.

Votel underscored, however, that creation of safe zones would not be easy, according to the magazine.

The US general explained that it would demand "all of the resources" in place, including ground troops which would be used to hold the area.

On February 16, Syrian National Council Co-chair Ilham Ehmed said in an interview with Firat News Agency that the safe zones proposed by the Trump administration would be created in areas under control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG).

Turkish chief presidential adviser Ilnur Cevik told Sputnik on Tuesday that Ankara would be against the creation of safe zones in Kurdish areas in Syria because they might be used by Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), considered a terrorist organization in Turkey.

Tensions between Ankara and the Kurds escalated in July 2015 when a ceasefire between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) collapsed because of a series of terror attacks allegedly committed by PKK members.

Second Explosion in One Day Occurs Near Al-Bab Amid Turkish-Led Op Victory On August 24, the Turkish army launched Operation Euphrates Shield against militants of the Daesh group, which is outlawed in Russia and many other countries. Since then the Turkish-led forces have driven Daesh from a number of settlements in northern Syria. The Turkish forces, with assistance from Syrian opposition fighters, occupied the city of Jarablus in northern Syria.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the aim of the operation is to clear the territory of 5,000 square kilometers (1,930 square miles) in Syria as part of the operation and create a safe zone for refugees.

The operation has been widely criticized both by the Syrian Kurds and Damascus, who have accused Ankara of violating Syria's territorial integrity.</s>Turkey says that after its forces complete their operations in Syria’s al-Bab, they will move towards the Kurdish-held city of Manbij.

“Now it is time for Manbij, which belongs to the Arabs, not the PYD or YPG,” said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday.

Turkish authorities first announced the capture of al-Bab last month. They have made similar claims at least twice since then. According to Erdogan, the city is almost cleared of Daesh terrorists.

In August 2016, Turkey began a major military intervention in Syria, dubbed "Euphrates Shield," sending tanks and warplanes across the border. Ankara claimed that its military campaign was aimed at pushing Daesh from Turkey's border with Syria and stopping the advance of Kurdish forces, but Damascus denounced the operation as a breach of its sovereignty.

Kurdish forces, mainly the Democratic Union Party, also known as the PYD, and its military wing the YPG, liberated the northern Syrian city of Manbij from Daesh last year. They are now currently in control of nearly all of Syria’s entire northern border with Turkey.
• Turkey’s operations in Syria to continue until border region secured: FM
• Kurds were supposed to leave after librating Manbij: Turkey

Ankara accuses the PYD of having links with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militant group that has been fighting for an autonomous Kurdish region inside Turkey since the 1980s.

Erdogan also noted that Turkey wishes to work with its allies towards ridding Iraq of Daesh and liberating Daesh’s stronghold in Syria, Raqqah, but will not work with the PYD or the US-backed YPG. “If our allies are really sincere, we tell them: We will act with you so long as we cleanse Raqqah from Daesh and give it back to its original owners,” he said.

He stressed that he had on multiple occasions called on the US to halt its support to the Kurdish forces in Syria, especially the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is a coalition of Arab fighters and Kurdish YPG forces.
• Syria militants start new operation against Daesh in Raqqah

“It is certainly not possible for us to agree with or act together with the PYD or YPG…One cannot say there are good terrorists and bad terrorists, and we will never try to use one terrorist group against another,” he added.

The SDF launched its campaign to capture Raqqah in November 2016 and took control of some areas up the Euphrates Valley.

For nearly six years, Syria has been fighting foreign-sponsored militancy. The UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura estimated in August last year that more than 400,000 people had been killed in the crisis until then. The world body stopped its official casualty count in the war-torn country, citing its inability to verify the figures it received from various sources.
The Syrian Government's Tiger Forces reaches the front lines with the Syrian Democratic Forces south of Manbij after capturing territory from ISIL, east of al-Bab.