ISIS update 5/24/2017...SAA continue offensive in Homs

Homs: SAA continue offensive in the southeast and east part of province.

The so-called Islamic State has conceded a large chunk of the Palmyra’s countryside to the Syrian Arab Army over the last ten days, leaving them on the brink of being expelled from the mountains in the Homs Governorate…

The Syrian Arab Army’s 5th Corps, liberated three Hilltops in a sweeping assault… The Syrian Army liberated the Hilltops of Tal Syria Tel, Tal al-Shuahda, and Tal al-Mashtal…

Video footage of the Syrian Arab Army’s advance was capture by Hezbollah’s official media wing:This film shows the moment where Syrian Arab Army’s troops took control of the 3 Hilltops in Southern Palmyra…

In addition to their advance South of Palmyra, the Syrian Army is also making an important push eastward in order to lift the siege on the Deir ez zor Governorate…

The Syrian Arab Army, Hezbollah, National Defense Forces, the Syrian Social Nationalist Party military wing and other pro-goverment forces are advancing on multiple front-line’s in Southeastern Syria…

Government forces have successfully advancing in the countryside of Palmyra and Al-Qaryatayn near Syrian-Jordanian border…

The Syrian Army advance from Jabal al-Abtar towards Sawaneh, khunayfis, and capture Qasr al-Halabat, missile battalion and Tell al-Farri South of Palmyra… Pro-goverment forces took large areas from Isis South and East of Qaryatayn, including Muhassah area, the video is from there, aiming to link with South Desert… The Syrian Army captured Al-Qaryatayn Dam in Southeastern Homs from Isis militants…

Also the Syrian Army reportedly took control of +1.000 k.m² area between the South Palmyra and Northeast Damascus…

Pro-goverment forces captured Train Station East to Qaryatayn, National Defense Forces captured Sawwanat al-Muhassah, Jabal Muhassah South of Al-Qaryatayn…

Turkey to Form 10,000-Fighter Army to Battle Kurdish Forces in Northern Syria

Sources in the Free Syrian Army (FSA) militant group disclosed that Ankara is about to form a new army of 10,000 FSA fighters to take part in battles against the Kurdish forces in Northern Syria.

The sources were quoted by the Arabic desk of Sputnik as saying that Turkey has a plan to form a new 10,000-member army from the Ankara-backed FSA militants to use them in battles against the Kurdish forces in a vast region staring from Jarabulus in Northern Aleppo to Idlib.

The sources added that the FSA militants are due to go under a 3-month training course and a further 45-day training by the Turkish Special Forces.

Sputnik went on to say that the FSA members that are to go under training will receive $300 as their monthly salary, while the Turkish side will also provide the FSA fighters with food and housing.

The sources told Sputnik that the operations in the towns of Afrin, Manbij and Tal Abyadh is the main objective of this new army.

Meantime, the people in al-Bab city in the Northern parts of Aleppo rallied to protest at the Turkish army and its allies’ deployment in the region.

Local sources in al-Bab reported on Monday that people held protest rallies in Sheikh Aqil district of al-Bab which was occupied by the Turkish army and Ankara-backed militants.

They added that tens of people in the region carried placards to protest at Ankara and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s policies.

They also chanted slogans including “Erdogan listen! We don’t obey your cruel army. This place belongs to us”.

The rally was held after Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Veysi Kaynak said the country was considering establishing a base near the Syrian city of al-Bab.

Kaynak said location of the base currently being considered by the Turkish General Staff was Aqil Hill, West of al-Bab.

The Turkish military established a temporary base at the strategic site after capturing it in February and was considering turning it into something more permanent since.

Speaking after a trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kaynak added that Turkish military presence in the area was reduced from 8,000 at the peak of the Operation Euphrates Shield to 1,500.

Turkey sent its military into Syria in August last year to prop up local militias allied with Ankara against ISIL and Kurdish forces. The confrontation with Syrian Kurd militias, which Turkey considers an off-shoot of the Turkish-based militant movement Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), put Ankara at odds with the US.       

Independence of Kurdish Iraq is likely a question of ‘not If, but when’ – US general

Combat work Mi-28NE “Night hunter” Iraqi Army Aviation over Mosul.

The last stronghold

The map shows the last stronghold of the Khilafat militants in Mosul – the quarters of the old city.

The Iraqi army and security forces in recent weeks have given up attempts to ram the defense of these quarters from the south, which led to great losses, but methodically occupied quarters north of the old city by the river, gradually narrowing the encirclement ring. Then begins the most difficult – cleaning the old city, which promises to be very bloody, given that the militants do not want to surrender.

While it is difficult to say how long it will take to clean up the old city. The assault of Mosul has already led to the disruption of all possible terms, clearly demonstrating all the difficulties that are encountered during the storming of large cities, which, as in the case of the assaults of Aleppo, Manbije, Fallujah, and the forthcoming storming of Rakki, will be closely monitored by the military Specialists of different countries for making clarifications in existing approaches to such issues.

PS. And more on the topic of “the last strongholds.”

Already for several days with reference to anonymous military sources, there are talks that the militants requested the export to the territory of the Caliphate in exchange for the surrender of the enclave.

It is about the evacuation in the territory of the province of Deir ez Zor, with the passing of heavy weapons and the transfer of territory under the control of the SAA.

Under a similar scheme, Assad is already working with the “green”, organizing them “green buses” to Idlib. Whether the Syrians will resort to the use of such tactics in relation to the Caliphate is not yet clear. The pros and cons of such an arrangement are obvious.

Pros:

1. Part of the surroundings of Damascus is being liberated and one of the old enclaves of militants is being liquidated, which increases the overall strategic connectivity.

2. The troops blocking this enclave are being liberated and they can be used for other operations.

3. The surrender of the “black” part of Yarmuk, can accelerate a similar surrender of the “green” part with the export of militants to Idlib.

Minuses.

1. Exported militants may short-term strengthen one of the fronts of the Caliphate and, for example, be thrown into a new offensive against Deir ez Zor, which can create additional difficulties.

2. Even tactical deals with the Caliphate will somewhat undermine the intransigent position of the Syrian government regarding the graduation of the list of terrorists with a division into those with whom they communicate and with whom they do not.

Domino of ISIL’s Collapse in Eastern Aleppo Continues, Syrian Soldiers Capture More Regions
US-Led Coalition Deploys More Forces in Al-Tanf Border-Crossing in Southern Syria

Turkey to Form 10,000-Fighter Army to Battle Kurdish Forces in Northern Syria
Syrian Army Starts Six Fronts in Badiyeh Region to Face Terrorists
Iraqi Forces Gear up for Final Assault on ISIL in Western Mosul, New Bridge Installed across Tigris
Aleppo: Over 3,000 ISIL Terrorists Killed, Wounded in Syrian Army Operations