Dr Tallha Abdulrazaq

Assad regime officers killed in the countryside of Hama today (confirmed via their service cards and tags):

1. Major Yazan Isma’il
2. Lieutenant Habib Zahir
3. Lieutenant Colonel ‘Alaa Ghassan Asaad
4. Lieutenant ‘Ali Sallum
5. Captain Muhammad Yahya Shadud.

I don't know precisely when, but these were all confirmed today, I'm told by their military IDs and tags.

1. Lt. Ahmad Samir Barhum.

2. Lt. Ghadir Yousef Mahmoud.

3. Lt. Ali Hasan al-Barudi.

4. Lt. Alaa Hasan Ali.

5. Lt. Hasan Ali Bashlawi.

6. Lt. Yousef Ali ‘Asaf.

Assadist officers, all confirmed killed in the Hama countryside.

Aleppo citadel, draped in the flags of Syria's revolution and Palestine, with the Islamic declaration of faith between them on the battlements.

Clear messaging from the anti-Assad rebels.

A captured Assad regime T-90 MBT in Khan al-Subul.

Meanwhile, battle lines are stabilising around Hama. The first major battle could be imminent, and events in the north of Syria could be influential on rebel reinforcements making their way south.

You're very welcome, sir.

YouTube video by The War Journal Why is Aleppo Important to the Conflict in Syria?

A brief explainer I put together when Aleppo was liberated. By the time it came out of the edit suite, the rebels had already acted on two of my points by moving on Hama to the south and towards Manbij to the east - they clearly weren't waiting for me!
youtu.be/dw6yjBY8jOk?...

Confirmed. One of my contacts has confirmed the rebels have now captured Tel Rifaat, northern Syria, and put the SDF to flight. This opens the door to Manbij, allowing SSG to govern from Idlib to Hassakeh, and maybe beyond.

Assad regime Brigadier Ayman Milhim has been liquidated on the Hama front. This is confirmed.

You're very welcome, my pleasure.

The Joint Operations Command evolved out of the "Fath al-Mubin Operations Centre", and now comprises 13 factions, some FSA and Turkey backed, some like Ahrar al-Sham, and then of course HTS (Jolani's guys) who are the most powerful. All in, circa 60,000 men.

There's no doubt HTS is the most organised and powerful, but that doesn't mean the others are pushovers. Also, we can't discount Turkey's risk appetite - they'd want stability so refugees can go back to Syria, not more chaos with a weak government.

I'm certain he genuinely hates Al-Qaeda - they had quite a messy falling out (Jolani's men also killed ISIS men and leadership in Idlib with extreme prejudice). But I'm not sure if that means ideological changes or simple personality clashes/differences.

Looks like a big battle is shaping up in Hama/Jabal Zayn al-Abidin. Syria regime forces have stopped running and have dug in.

Remember: in 1982, Hafez al-Assad killed 40,000 Sunni Muslims and razed Hama. There are many martyrs to avenge.

This battle will set the tone for the rest of Syria.

The Joint Operations Command is some 13 factions and approximately 60,000 men. They've mechanised, likely with Turkish support, and their baggage train has, so far, kept pace with them, not to mention the spoils they've taken off Assad's/Iran's men.

HTS emir Jolani issues a communique reminding fighters under his command to conduct themselves Islamically while capturing enemy territory, and gives assurances to minorities (the already miniscule Druze and Christian population).

He's had quite the makeover from his Al-Qaeda days..

Minimally. They're fleeing Lebanon and have no will to fight those they've been oppressing since 2011/12. With Iran doing nothing to bail them out, their morale is utterly destroyed.

Not only are rebels taking Hama, but Homs (next city south) is seeing locals revolting, as is Daraa, Suwayda & Qalamoun south of Damascus. Rival Assadist factions are clashing with each other and the Iranians in the capital.

All Syria is aflame with rebellion.

Reports of heavy clashes in Damascus. The coup attempt may be in progress.

Assad is reportedly in Russia, with his family possibly in the UAE.

His regime is falling like a house of cards.

According to the Sham Media Network, a high ranking Syrian military officer has indicated there are officers who want to overthrow Assad to stop the rebels advancing beyond Hama.

Clearly, this wouldn't be acceptable. The regime is more than just Assad.

I'll write a scholarly study of this battle for academic publication.

This means they infiltrated the city and caused absolute mayhem well in advance of this beautifully planned operation, distracting Assadist forces and sowing fear among their ranks as the main force sealed off the routes and advanced from Idlib.

Incredible. I have been reliably informed that rebel special forces teams are now emerging OUT of Aleppo and linking up with the main forces coming INTO the city. Six neighbourhoods have been fully liberated, and more coming.

Aleppo is all but liberated from Assad's control.

From footage I'm being sent, they're moving too quickly, too loosely and engaging too tightly to Assad regime formations for their airpower to be making much difference (added to the fact they've been caught off guard). Also, I'm sure they're not counting on Turkey!

Rebel forces are literally on the outskirts of Aleppo. This is a view overlooking parts of the centre (it's not a sprawling city, but it's a major one).

Assadists up and down Syria won't be sleeping easily, if at all, tonight.

The rebels in Syria have made astonishing gains in the Aleppo countryside in the first true offensive in the last 4 years.

They're now knocking at Aleppo's gates. If they take/hold Saraqib, they'd have dealt a mortal blow to Assad's lines of communications to Aleppo.

YouTube video by The War Journal Syrian Rebels Capture Assad Regime Soldiers Near Aleppo During "Operation Deterrence of Aggression"

Footage showing first Assad regime soldiers captured as POWs by rebels sallying out of Idlib towards Aleppo in northern Syria as part of "Operation Deterrence of Aggression".

They're shown being provided food and water.
youtu.be/1xSJVREtHkU?...

With Turkey ever unreliable and seeking to extract itself from regional problems, HTS and the other factions now have an opportunity to make some solid gains while their opponents are weakened or distracted, and before a new US administration can act in a detrimental fashion against the rebels.

Syrian rebel factions are literally banging on Aleppo's gates, and this looks like the first serious offensive in years - one that they've been preparing for and awaiting the right opportunity to launch.

Russia is reluctant to sink too much more blood and treasure into Syria, especially while Ukraine rages on and they're waiting for a Trump presidency that can pull them out of that mess with a win.

Assadist forces, meanwhile, have always been a sad joke.