Syrian Army Advances towards Turkish Border
Syrian government troops advanced Sunday toward a rebel town near the Turkish border as they pressed a Russian-backed offensive that has prompted tens of thousands to flee, a monitor said.
The town of Tal Rifaat is around 20 kilometers from the Turkish frontier, where Syrians who have fled fighting near Aleppo city have been gathering since the assault was launched Monday.
It is one of the last rebel strongholds in the north of Aleppo province and government troops are just seven kilometers away, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said regime troops want to push north to the border with Turkey to prevent rebels and weapons from entering Syrian territory.
Syrian pro-government newspaper al-Watan said Sunday that Tal Rifaat would be a major prize for the regime.
"If it falls, the army will be able to progress and seize control of all of the northern part of Aleppo province," the paper said.
Regime forces backed by intense Russian air strikes have closed in on Aleppo city in their most significant advance since Moscow intervened in September in support of President Bashar Assad's government.
Syria's mainstream rebels are now threatened with collapse after the regime severed their main supply line to Aleppo city.
Opposition forces along with roughly 350,000 civilians are in rebel-held areas of the divided city of Aleppo and face the risk of a government siege.
Punitive blockades have been employed elsewhere in the nearly five-year civil war, causing dire humanitarian situations including starvation.
Since Saturday night government forces have surrounded the rebel bastion of Daraya in Damascus province.
07 February 2016, 20:45
512
America sold you out, and you think Russia does the same?
Think again, Syria is their new Chechnya, and they will rid it from takfiris before they leave.
07 February 2016, 21:22
611
Not likely, Russians didn't go out of Afghanistan because of military looses, it was for economical reasons.
07 February 2016, 21:26
103
oh! i see... so guerilla against moujahidins was nothing then...
"By 1982, the Mujahdeen controlled 75% of Afghanistan despite fighting the might of the world’s second most powerful military power. Young conscript Russian soldiers were no match against men fuelled by their religious belief. Though the Russian army had a reputation, the war in Afghanistan showed the world just how poor it was outside of military displays. Army boots lasted no more than 10 days before falling to bits in the harsh environment of the Afghanistan mountains." http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/modern-world-history-1918-to-1980/the-cold-war/russian-invasion-of-afghanistan/
07 February 2016, 21:58
512
You should read what military experts say peace, not just Al Arabiyas wishes.
http://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/syria-chechnya-revisited-1819998438
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elena-ulansky/syria-vs-chechnya-west-ha_b_8304254.html
07 February 2016, 22:07
103
1 hour ago VDL (100.5): Tracer gunshots are being fired for an unknown reason in the vicinity of Beirut's international airport, which dangerously threatens the landing planes.
must be al nusra or ISIS shooting tracer gunshots near the airport. Filthy sectarian hzrb of sectarianism and terror.
07 February 2016, 22:12
113
your article says what i am saying and that you call stupidly "elarabiya wishes" LOL
you are pityful, you don't even read the articles you post till the end LOL
"Their bombing raids have left thousands more Syrian fighters with a score of their own to settle. They have TOW missiles and they pray for Russian tanks to come into range. The popular rage is great. Putin should not think he can re-arrange the Muslim House in Syria any more successfully than he has done so in the North Caucasus. If he were wise, he should plan his exit strategy now."
07 February 2016, 22:17
512
Yeah sure, listen to you salafis and pullout?
Right now when you are being destroyed? You still act like you have the upper hand, no way peace.
You have already done enough damage as it is, you must be uprooted and perished.
07 February 2016, 22:20
411
peace, you should read this article aswell.
First time the Washingtonpost made an interesting article.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/saudi-arabia-cant-find-its-way-out-of-yemens-messy-war/2015/11/12/4d70ce26-84e1-11e5-8bd2-680fff868306_story.html
07 February 2016, 23:23
511
Unlike you I don't post articles than only talks for my side.
I see it from all perspectives, even the Saudis ones too.
Now do you deny that you always whine about Assad staying onto power?
Because that is what I am referring to, why should he step down because you salafis tells him to? Why should Putin stop bombing aswell?
After all, the same chechens he fought in Caucasus are in Syria now.
07 February 2016, 23:24
310
peace, you care about the opposition is Syria aswell, so why should I not support the Ansarullah?
In Lebanon all people have their alliances, even you know that. So drop the patriotic act, and be honest for once.
07 February 2016, 23:38
93
"why should he step down because you salafis tells him to? Why should Putin stop bombing aswell? "
your "military expert" said so too in the article you posted! "he should plan his exit strategy now"
so you posted an article written by a salafi? LOL
putin is killing thousands of civilians for one man to stay in power LOL so yes he should stop his indiscriminate butchery! "the civilian death toll from Russian strikes at between 1,000 and 1,200" ( from the same source you posted! LOL ) the very same man that killed and kidnapped thousands of lebanese and you say your care about Lebanon and defend a man that killed lebanese? LOL
07 February 2016, 23:41
93
yes yipeee, for brainless people like you if one attacks your pimp and ally then he is automatically pro salafi or a zionist, i know the song...
that is called binary thinking, but real thinking is something you are really unable to do.....
08 February 2016, 04:32
31
Bashar is making sure the only opposition to remain is ISIS (he and his allies are focusing on the more moderate ones) because he wants all the minorities to be scared to the point that he remains their only option. In Lebanon he killed opposition from all religions (including christians), just to dominate. Power is his only game.
08 February 2016, 11:57
01
Mystic,
Wonder why you criticize what you call Salafies, when they are your twin brothers. Same barbarian false understanding of islam. Brainwashed suicide bombers, Sharia, petrodollars spent on setting war everywhere...
