Weapons produced in the Jewish nation were seized by the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in the city of Homs on Wednesday after security forces discovered secret ammunition stockpiles across the former rebel stronghold of Al-Waer, an outer suburb located on the northwestern perimeter of the provincial capital.
In pictures: Syrian Army confiscates Israeli armaments left behind by rebels in Homs
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/pictures-syrian-army-confiscates-israeli-armaments-left-behind-rebels-homs/
According to photos obtained by Al-Masdar News, the SAA captured dozens of anti-tanks missiles along with tons of ammunition and explosives which had been abandoned by evacuated Islamist insurgents. Some of the weapons bore Israeli inscriptions, an indication that Tel Aviv may have smuggled armaments to opposition forces in Homs. Close-up pictures of the newly captured Israeli weapons:
Late last month, the last batch of rebel militants departed the Al-Waer neighborhood for Idlib, thus restoring all of Homs city under government control for the first time since 2011.
Syria and Israel still remain at a state of war following three major wars in the 20th century. Over the past week alone, the Israeli Air Force has conducted three separate raids on the SAA in the Golan Heights.
On Wednesday, a huge explosion rocked the ISIS-held town of Jallayn in southern Syria, resulting in the death of at least six jihadist commanders who were gathered for a meeting to discuss a coming offensive in western Daraa.
Entire ISIS leadership in Daraa pocket wiped out by mysterious assassination
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/entire-isis-leadership-daraa-pocket-wiped-mysterious-assassination/
Reports regarding the incident are conflicting; some indicate a US warplane was involved while others claim a car bomb violently interrupted the meeting.
Nevertheless,
six ISIS field commanders were confirmed dead due to the attack, namely: Abu Hamza Al-Komah, Abu Madeen, Abu Qassourah, Abu Oubidah Al-Shami, Ahmad Al-Ghazi and Abu Hashem.
The latter jihadist warlord represents the leading Islamic State Emir for Jaish Khalid Ibn Al-Walid, a jihadist group that swore allegiance to Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi back in 2014.
Due to a surprise blitz offensive earlier this year, Jaish Khalid Ibn Al-Walid controls some 25 villages and towns that are anchored on the border with Israel and Jordan in southwestern Syria. The jihadist group regularly clashes with rebel factions and is known to enforce brutal religious laws on civilians living under its rule. Click here for a map of the region.
New reports regarding a massive Turkish Army build-up in northern Aleppo have emerged after military sources confirmed to local outlets that a large-scale offensive was brewing, aimed at driving the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) out of the Efrin region.
Turkish Army offensive to begin this weekend to expel Kurds from northern Aleppo
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/turkish-army-offensive-begin-weekend-expel-kurds-northern-aleppo/
Two days ago, Al-Masdar News revealed that dozens of Turkish tanks were pouring into the northern rebel-held countryside of Aleppo while artillery units had already begun a barrage on SDF frontline villages.
Although other NATO allies are opposed to any such aggression, the Turkish Armed Forces hope to smash through some 30 kilometers of Kurdish-held territory and build a corridor between the northern Aleppo pocket and Idlib rebel heartland.
According to a Turkish military source speaking to a local outlet, the primary targets of the invasion will be Menagh Airbase, Tall Rifaat and Efrin city itself.
Yesterday, the US Army patrolled the northern Raqqa border town of Tall Abyad amid fears that a second Turkish offensive was to begin there.
An official with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the coalition of US-backed militants with the stated goal of creating a secular, democratic, federalized Syria, said that the SDF sees a "big possibility of open, fierce confrontation" with Turkish forces in northwestern Syria. This comes after the two sides exchanged fire on Wednesday.
US-Backed Syrian Fighters Warn of Open Warfare with Turkish Forces
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201706291055097692-us-backed-syrians-turkey-squabble/
The senior official, Naser Haj Mansour, told Reuters that the SDF would confront the Turks "if they try to go beyond the known lines." Turkish forces are there to support anti-government, primarily Islamist Syrian rebels.
Mansour went on to say that a Turkish attack against SDF-controlled areas would do "great harm" to the SDF's efforts against Daesh. The two factions are currently embroiled in a struggle over the city of Raqqa, Daesh's primary stronghold in Syria.
An SDF victory would likely herald the end of Daesh as an organization able to control territory. Mansour said that the SDF intended to totally encircle the city, trapping Daesh within. "There is a plan to impose a complete siege, but if this will take a day or two days, I can't say," he said.
Raqqa may be encircled and Daesh on its way out, but the deterioration of the uneasy détente between the American and Turkish blocs may begin a new wave of violence in Syria. On Thursday, the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the spearhead faction in the SDF, created a military blockade to impede Turkish progress towards the Afrin district in northern Aleppo.
"The Kurdish people in Afrin region have suffered a lot under heavy bombardment by Turkey and allied Islamists," a YPG officer told ARA News.
"We will respond to any Turkish attacks on Rojava-Northern Syria. The Turkish troops and Turkey-backed Islamists will be a main target for our forces in the area."
