The Free Syrian Army groups earlier today said they pushed ISIS militants out of several positions on the outskirts of the town of Al-Raei north of Aleppo, adding that they began advancing inside the town.
In the early hours of today, the FSA groups announced the launch of a big offensive to recapture the town of Al-Raei, which is one of ISIS’s most important strongholds in northern rural Aleppo.
The FSA fighters began the offensive with launching a barrage of heavy machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and heavy artillery on ISIS positions in the northern and western sides of the town. ISIS militants were forced to retreat to the inside of the town after suffering dozens of casualties.
Having captured around 20 villages in northern rural Aleppo from ISIS over the past week, the FSA fighters are close to expel elements of the extremist organization form the entire area bordering Turkey.
Meanwhile, in southern rural Aleppo, the FSA fighters and other rebel groups repelled a regime attack led by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and foreign militias on the towns of Zorba and Khan Tuman, killing over 15 of the attacking forces.
Violent clashes also took place throughout the night and early morning hours of Thursday after pro-regime forces attempted to advance on the strategic town of Al-Eis south of Aleppo under close and intense aerial cover by the Russian warplanes.
Ahrar al-Sham rebel group said they killed a number of Hezbollah militants during these clashes, while activists said that the commander of the regime offensive on Al-Eis was killed along with a number of his militia on the outskirts of the town. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Agencies)
