PHOTO: The frontline south of Aleppo after a rebel counter-offensive on Monday (Map: Archicivilians)

LATEST

TUESDAY FEATURES

Audio Analysis: Putin’s Anti-Turkey Strategy After Russian Jet Downed
Developing: Turkey Downs Russian Warplane Near Border
Islamic State Analysis: Terror and the Quest for Power

Syria’s rebels made a notable advance south of Aleppo on Monday, regaining territory lost to a regime offensive earlier this month.

Throughout the day, the Jaish al-Fateh rebel coalition, Free Syrian Army units in the Fateh Halab operations room, and the Islamist faction Jabhat al-Nusra took villages and hilltops. They attacked the village of Banes and closed on the key town of al-Hadher, occupied almost two weeks ago by the offensive led by Iranian, Hezbollah, and Iraqi allies of the Syrian military.

The attacks south of Aleppo had been the most successful of the regime’s six-front offensive, covered by Russian airstrikes, from October 7. They had established a frontline just short of the Aleppo-to-Damascus highway and the border with opposition-held Idlib Province.

Videos showed the battlefield and successful rebel operations, including this claimed drone footage:

See further videos in Monday’s Syria Daily

On Monday evening, footage was posted of rebels taking a hill southeast of al-Hadher:

The battle for Tal Mamou:

Jabhat al-Nusra fighters in action:

Jaish al-Fateh had promised a counter-offensive with thousands of fighters after the regime’s move into al-Hadher, but Monday’s gains — revealed after the lifting of a media blackout by the opposition — were unexpectedly quick. The reason for the regime’s setback is unknown, although one supporter offered the curious explanation that foreign troops — including Iranians — had been withdrawn or transferred to a front near the Islamic State-occupied city of Palmyra in central Syria.

Iran “Strongly Denies” That Commander of Elite Forces Injured

For the second time in two weeks, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps have “strongly rejected” claims that the commander of the elite Qods Force, General Qassem Soleimani, was wounded near Aleppo.

“Brigadier General Qassem Soleimani is fully healthy and is assisting the Islamic resistance in Syria and Iraq to fight against the Takfiri terrorists spiritedly and fully energetically and powerfully,” a Guards official said on Tuesday. “The reports on his injury are sheer lies to affect the public opinion and the resistance front.”

Monday’s rumors were started by a Facebook post claiming to be from the Iranian analyst Amir Mousawi.

The Guards official would not reveal Soleimani’s whereabouts, but claimed the General had recently been on pilgrimage to the Iraqi religious city of Karbala. He insisted:

Such rumors have been spread by the terrorists due to the heavy blows that they have received from the Syrian forces led by the Iranian military advisors in different parts of Syria in the past two months and given General Soleimani’s key role in their defeats….

The terrorists and their Zionist backers spread such rumors for two reasons: first, to lower the morale of the resistance and Syrian forces and second, to find a chance to trace his location through a scrutiny of our responses.

Video: 3 Russian Journalists Injured in Latakia Province

Footage of the injury of three Russian journalists by a rebel shell in northern Latakia Province:

The Syrian military has been trying to advance in the area, but the offensive may now be complicated by Tuesday’s downing of a Russian warplane by Turkey (see separate entry).

Warplane Shot Down by Turkey, Crashes on Turkish-Syrian Border

A warplane has crashed on the Turkish-Syrian border after reportedly violating Turkey’s airspace and being shot down by the Turkish military.

Now see Syria Developing: Turkey Downs Russian Warplane Near Border

Syrian Military Pushes Back Islamic State in Homs Province

The Syrian military has pushed back the Islamic State in eastern Homs Province, retaking the town of Mahin.

Both pro-regime and pro-opposition websites also reported the advance.

ISIS captured Mahin, 85 km (53 miles) southeast of Homs city, earlier this month as it threatened a further advance on the mainly-Christian town of Saddad. The victory was a setback for the Syrian military, which had launched its offensive in northern Homs Province against rebels in October.

Mahin lies to the east of the highway connecting Homs and Damascus.