Russian jets hammer jihadists in Aleppo as tensions reach boiling point

BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:20 P.M.) – The Russian Air Force has been busy today launching several airstrikes across the Idlib and Hama governorates of northwestern Syria.

Following their attack on Idlib and Hama, the Russian Air Force expanded their strikes to the Aleppo Governorate, where they repeatedly hammered Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham’s positions in Kafr Hamra.

While the Russians struck from the air, the Syrian Arab Army would provide the attack from the ground, hitting a number of sites belonging to Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham along the western axis of the city.

A source from the Syrian military in Aleppo told Al-Masdar this evening that the situation in the governorate is incredibly tense, with Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham expecting to retaliate in the coming hours.

The source added that Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham is the source of the problem in Aleppo as they do not adhere to the demilitarized zone agreement nor do they want a ceasefire around the city.

Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham previously took advantage of the redeployment of the Turkish-backed rebels to northern Aleppo in order to land grab in the western part of Aleppo.

This expansion by Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham resulted in the near expulsion of Harakat Nouriddeen Al-Zinki from the western countryside of Aleppo.