Aleppo Report: ISIL Kuweires Airbase attack Repelled; Hezbollah Advances at Al-Zahra

On Saturday, ISIL stormed the isolated Kuweires Airbase in east Aleppo, attempting to infiltrate the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) frontline defenses at both the western and eastern flanks.

Unable to break-through the SAA’s defenses, ISIL’ attack was repelled by the soldiers at the guard posts and then forced to withdrawal their forces at the eastern and western flanks after sustaining heavy losses outside of the Kuweires Airbase.

According to a military source, the Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAF) played an integral role at the battle for Kuweires Airbase, as they launched numerous airstrikes on the enemy combatants besieging the eastern and western flanks, including a pivotal airstrike that forestalled the ISIL reinforcements 2km from the base.

In northern Aleppo, Hezbollah – in coordination with the National Defense Forces (NDF) – cleared out the remaining fighters from the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” and their allies from Jaysh Al-Mujahiddeen at the Industrial Area of Al-Zahra on Saturday.

Directly following their snuff-out operation at the Industrial Area, Hezbollah and the NDF fought their way towards the Al-Zahra-Bayanoun axis, marking the first time in two years that any forces allied to the Syrian Government have advanced to this part of the village outskirts in two years.

Sources in Al-Zahra reported the death of 44 fighters from Jabhat Al-Nusra and Jaysh Al-Mujahiddeen over the course of this two day long battle; meanwhile, the NDF and Hezbollah had minimal casualties, including 12 soldiers killed and 9 wounded.

Jabhat Al-Nusra and Jaysh Al-Mujahiddeen attempted to infiltrate the NDF’s defenses at the villages of Duwayr Al-Zeitoun and Bashkoy on Saturday; however, their attack was repelled for the third time this week – the Islamist forces withdrew towards Rityan.

An intense firefight between Jabhat Al-Nusra and the SAA took place near Great Prophet Mosque in the Al-Zahra Association Quarter, leading to heavy casualties for both parties, but no advancement for the Al-Qaeda group.

Militants from Harakat ‘Ahrar Al-Sham and Jabhat Al-Nusra attacked the Palestinian led “Liwaa Al-Quds” at the Nayrab Refugee Camp near the Aleppo International Airport – fighting was still ongoing into the evening.

Source: Almasdarnews