ANKARA

The Syrian National Army (SNA) has launched an operation to counter the PKK/YPG terrorist group’s plan to establish a terror corridor between Tel Rifaat and northeastern Syria, according to security sources.

Tensions have resurfaced in northern Syria after anti-regime armed groups recently captured the country’s second-largest city, Aleppo.

As opposition forces began their operation towards Aleppo, Syrian regime forces quickly lost control of significant territory. This prompted the Syrian regime to seek support from the PKK/YPG terrorist organization against the opposition, paving the way for the terrorist group to advance.

The Syrian regime has begun ceding lands under its control to PKK/YPG forces east of the Euphrates River. As a result, large numbers of PKK/YPG terrorists and heavy weapons were transported from east of the Euphrates River to Aleppo.

The PKK/YPG terrorist group saw the surrender of territory by the Syrian regime as an opportunity and attempted to establish a terrorist corridor between Tel Rifaat and northeastern Syria. However, the plan was thwarted by the SNA.

Noticing the maneuvers of the terrorist organization amid the advance of opposition groups towards Aleppo, the SNA launched “Operation Dawn of Freedom” and quickly entered the field.

The SNA disrupted PKK/YPG efforts to establish a terrorist corridor by cutting the road between Raqqa and Aleppo, thereby blocking the link between Tel Rifaat and northeast Syria.

Location in Tel Rifaat

YPG/PKK terrorists, with air support from Russia, took control of Tel Rifaat and some surrounding settlements in February 2016.

The terrorist organization has displaced nearly 250,000 civilians from Tel Rifaat and its surrounding areas, forcing them to take refuge in areas near the Turkish border.

From Tel Rifaat, the YPG/PKK terrorist group launched attacks against settlements in the Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch areas, as well as against positions held by security forces Turkish forces providing security and opposition fighters.

The PKK/YPG terrorist organization, which occupied the Tel Rifaat neighborhood, had collaborated with the Assad regime and its supporters to maintain control of the area.

With the advance of anti-regime armed groups in central Aleppo, regime forces withdrew from Tel Rifaat.

Syrian regime airstrikes on Idlib province kill 4 civilians

Airstrikes by the Syrian regime and Russian military planes on downtown Idlib killed four civilians, local sources reported on Sunday.

The attacks, which began early Sunday morning, involved at least nine airstrikes on downtown Idlib, according to an opposition-affiliated air observatory.

Civil Defense sources said preliminary findings indicate that four civilians lost their lives and 20 others were injured in the attacks.

The airstrikes, which targeted a market and residential areas, caused significant damage.

Anti-regime armed groups advance towards Hama province in Syria

In Syria, armed groups opposed to the Assad regime have moved towards the province of Hama, following their advances in the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib.

For four days, anti-regime groups have been in conflict with regime forces, continuing their advance across the country.

After retaking a large part of the city of Aleppo and the entire province of Idlib from regime forces, armed groups are now advancing towards Hama, located south of Idlib and under regime control.

In the evening, the groups captured the town of Khan Shaykhun in southern Idlib and continued their advance, taking control of several towns in northern Hama, including Taybat al-Imam, Kafr Zayta, Kafr Nbouda, Hilfaya, Qalat Madiq, Latamneh, Soran, Kirnez. , Mardes, Hamaiyet and Termala.

Armed groups also took control of Morik, a key neighborhood on the M5 motorway.

Currently, opposition groups are positioned approximately 8 kilometers from downtown Hama, where they continue to confront regime forces.

Opposition forces seize Aleppo international airport in Syria

Armed opposition groups fighting against Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria seized Aleppo’s international airport on Saturday, which regime forces had left to the PKK/YPG terrorist group, according to local sources.

According to sources, regime forces withdrew from the city this morning, leaving the airport located east of the city to armed opposition groups.

After the entry of opposition groups into central Aleppo, regime forces left some strategic locations in the city to the PKK/YPG terrorist organization.

Clashes break out in Syria’s Daraa as regime forces open fire on protesters

Regime forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad opened fire on Saturday on demonstrators in Deraa province, in southern Syria, who supported the advance of anti-regime armed groups.

Local sources reported that dozens of people gathered in the Inkhil neighborhood of Deraa to support the advance of anti-regime forces.

Regime forces responded by firing live ammunition to disperse the crowd.

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