Syrian Army Secures and Reopens Three Major Highways
Over the course of three months, the Syrian Government has witnessed a number of attacks from militant groups on their main highways that are used for resupplying the Syrian Armed Forces on the battlefield and to promote business and commerce among the many civilians still living inside war-torn areas in Syria.
Arguably one of the most important highways for the Syrian Government in northern Syria, the Khanasser Highway is the latter’s only route to the provincial capital of the Aleppo Governorate; and as of recently, it has been the primary target for the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” and the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS).
The Syrian Arab Army and National Defense Forces (NDF) were finally able to reopen this highway again on Tuesday after clearing Jabhat Al-Nusra from the outskirts of Al-Rashidiyah – a town located in southern Aleppo.
Meanwhile, in southern Syria, the Syrian Arab Army fended off another assault from the Free Syrian Army’s “Southern Front” Brigade on the Damascus-Dara’a Highway; this highway, like the Khanasser Highway, is the lifeline for the Syrian Armed Forces that are entrenched in the provincial capital, as the recent rebel advances in the southern part of the province have left only one supply route available for the government.
Despite the looming threat some ten kilometers away, the Syrian Armed Forces have allowed for civilians to access the Damascus-Dara’a Highway; however, there have been multiple warnings of potential danger.
The final highway that was reopened by the Syrian Armed Forces was the Homs-Salamiyah Highway; this roadway was closed after multiple attacks by Islamist Forces near the town of Saleem – a military source has confirmed that it is reopened and open to the public.
