A surprise offensive by a coalition of anti-Assad groups has captured the key city of Aleppo and sent Assad’s troops and their Russian auxiliaries into a retreat to find more defensible lines. The offensive is led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a faction that until 2017 was considered to be a subsidiary of Al Qaeda. It is allied with several Turkish-backed militias during this offensive. Official reports place the insurgent forces inside Aleppo, but social media reports indicate that Aleppo has fallen except for isolated pockets of resistance.
The rebels have really shaken up things and I think this is only the beginning. Russian forces located at a base in Sarrin 110km from Aleppo are relocating 90km to the SE to Al Raqqa. The Russian are getting their asses kicked in Mali, Ukraine, Russia, and Syria https://t.co/ABQ4vKqcs5 pic.twitter.com/OkUhlgrrXV
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