Syrian Army prepares two separate military campaigns at once

Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) elite shock troops – the Tiger Forces – deployed to northern Aleppo; these government troops are tasked with slicing through the rebel defensive lines in western Aleppo and severing the insurgent supply line to Aleppo city. Meanwhile, regular ground troops of SAA’s 67th Brigade of the 18th Division and the SAA’s 60th Brigade of the 11th Division are expected to advance into ISIS turf east of Palmyra en route to the besieged city of Deir Ezzor. They are backed by elements of the Desert Hawks Brigade, one of the units that helped to liberate Palmyra earlier this year.