We did the best we could with the Christmas decorations

Merry Christmas from Syrian Troops

The pix is from my latest fav site, actually a Twitter page, called ZOKA, manned by someone who obviously has contacts in the Syrian military or maybe is a soldier.  Hat tip to a Moon of Alabama reader writing in response to MoA's December 27 post, Turkey's Military Intervention In Libya Might Help Syria (because Turkey is transferring so many mercenaries patriotic Syrian rebels from Idlib to fight in Libya).  

ZOKA does a lot of reporting on the kinetic aspects of the Syrian war, and now he's also reporting a lot on the Libya situation. The catch is that unless one is proficient in militaryspeak, some of his comments range from indecipherable to hard to follow but I love it that he provides weather reports for Idlib and does his best to keep readers as much up-to-the-minute on Syrian operations as he can.

As to how the operations are going, well, from Al-Masdar News, here's a reasonably comprehensible map of the year's end allover situation; the Syrian government has now regained control of about 70 percent of the country.  

AMN's January 1 report accompanying the map:

BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:30 P.M.) – The Syrian conflict is nearing its ninth year as the Levantine nation continues to experience violent battles in several parts of the country .

While the first half of 2019 witnessed little territorial changes, the Syrian War would see a major shift towards the last three months of the year.

In particular, the Turkish-led military operation, dubbed “Peace Spring”, forced the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to reach a military cooperation agreement with the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in order to prevent the militants loyal to Ankara from capturing several border areas.

As a result of this agreement, the Syrian Arab Army entered several areas in northern and northeastern Syria that they have not had a presence in since 2012.

Meanwhile, in the Idlib Governorate, 2019 would see a major shift to this front after the Syrian Armed Forces captured the last militant-held areas inside the Hama Governorate.

The Syrian Army’s capture of Khan Sheikhoun in the Summer of 2019 paved the way for their forces to begin their long-awaited Idlib campain.

This Syrian Army campaign is still ongoing at the moment, as their troops attempt to capture the strategic city of Ma’arat Al-Nu’man, which is located along the Idlib-Hama Highway (M-5 Highway).

[END REPORT]

As of this night, though, AMN, whose glass is always half empty, reports:

Turkish and Syrian armies trade attacks in Idlib as situation worsens

BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:45 P.M.) – The Turkish and Syrian armies have traded attacks in the eastern countryside of the Idlib Governorate today, with both sides firing heavy artillery at one another.

According to a field report from northwest Syria, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) heavily shelled the eastern countryside of Idlib Governorate, as some of their artillery shells hit the Turkish observation post at Ma’ar Hathat.

In response, the Turkish military fired several artillery shells towards the Syrian Army’s positions near the Jarjanaz front in southeastern Idlib.

The Syrian Army was also attacked from the Turkish military’s observation post in the town of Sarman, which is currently besieged from all sides by the government forces.

Neither side has reported any casualties as of yet.

[END REPORT]

Yesterday FARS reported Syrian Army Heavily Pounds Terrorists’ Military Positions in Eastern Idlib, Militants Retreat.

For more on Turkey's transfer of mercenaries from Idlib to Turkey, see Voltaire Network's December 31 post, Jihadi exodus from Syria to Libya is underway. 

[END REPORT]

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