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Two Days Later, State Media Acknowledges Loss of Ariha in Idlib Province


Rebels advanced farther on Friday following their quick capture of Ariha in Idlib Province in northwest Syria.

On Thursday, the rebel coalition Jaish al-Fatah took Ariha within hours of declaring an offensive. The victory followed the capture of Idlib city on March 28, of the city of Jisr al-Shughour on April 26, and of regime military camps. Assad’s forces now control less then 5% of Idlib Province, such as a couple of isolated, fortified villages north of Idlib city.

See Syria Daily, May 29: Rebels Capture Ariha in Northwest Within Hours as Assad Forces Flee
Syria Developing: Rebels Capture Ariha, One of Last Assad Positions in Idlib Province

On Friday, rebels continued the pursuit of fleeing Syrian forces along the M4 highway to the west of Ariha. Video showed scores of dead soldiers and destroyed or damaged vehicles, including armor.

The Syrian military hoped to regroup in Ma’ataram and Urum al-Joz, but both villages were soon taken by rebels. By Friday afternoon, fighting was at the al-Qiyasat barrier (see map).

State media, refusing to acknowledge any losses, proclaims that airstrikes “destroyed dens for terrorists…killing a number” of the rebels; however, there was no evidence on Friday. that the aerial attacks halted the advance.

The prospect is that the Syrian forces will be driven further back along the M4 highway to Frikka, in northern Hama Province, and that Jaish al-Fatah will then try to take the rest of the al-Ghab plain to the south of the highway. The rebels already hold about 1/3 of the plain, taken during an offensive following the victory in Jisr al-Shughour.

The rapid advance since March opens up several options. Rebels could move further into Hama Province, seeking to surround Hama city. They could turn back to the east into Aleppo Province, hoping to defeat the regime in the divided Aleppo city — Syria’s largest — but also facing battles with the Islamic State, who are just to the east of the city. Or they could move to the west and the Mediterranean coast, challenging the Assad regime in its heartland of Latakia Province.

A leader of the rebel faction Ahrar al-Sham said that “an offensive into the Alawite parts of coastal Syria could permanently scuttle partition”, opening the way to control of all of the country by the opposition to President Assad.

(Featured Photo: Ammar Abdullah/Reuters)


Reports: Islamic State Blows Up Infamous Palmyra Prison

Photographs on social media claim to show the demolition of the infamous regime prison in Palmyra, captured last week by the Islamic State:

The prison was notorious for the abuse, torture, and summary execution of thousands of detainees during the years of President Hafez al-Assad. It was closed in 2001, soon after Bashar al-Assad took power, but reopened in 2011 to hold political prisoners during the uprising against the regime.

Earlier this week, the Islamic State posted video of the prison complex.

See Syria Daily, May 28: Video — Tour of Infamous Palmyra Prison


Islamic State & Regime Fight in Hasakah Province; Islamic State Moving on Hasakah City?

The Islamic State and Syrian army are clashing in the village of al-Dawoudiyeh in southeastern Hasakeh Province in eastern Syria.

Unconfirmed reports say the Islamic State has taken the village, while State news agency SANA insists that regime forces killed “dozens of ISIS terrorists” and destroyed vehicles, including two “packed with massive amounts of explosives”.

Claims are circulating that the Islamic State is closing on Hasakah city, threatening the regime’s control. SANA says the Syrian army “foiled a terrorist attack by IS on military points near Hasakah”.

The Assyrian Network for Human Rights said the Islamic State had seized a checkpoint on the southwestern periphery of Hasakah and had fired mortar rounds into the center.

Kurdish forces are also present in the city.


Reports: Regime Barrel Bombs Kill At Least 50 in Al-Bab in Aleppo Province

The Local Coordination Committees report that at least 50 people have been killed and 70 wounded in regime barrel-bombing of al-Bab in Aleppo Province.

The Islamic State, which controls al-Bab, also said 50 people died in a “devastating massacre” by Syrian army helicopters.

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(Photo: Getty)

The LCC also said 10 people were killed and dozens wounded in barrel-bombing of the rebel-held al-Sha’er area of Aleppo city.


Islamic State Moves Within 35 Km of Homs City, Attacking Town of Farqalas

The Islamic State has moved within 35 miles (22 miles) of Homs city, attacking the town of Farqalas to the east.

The assault reportedly began with the destruction of a gas pipeline after the Islamic State secured the road leading to Farqalas, forcing the retreat of the Syrian Army’s 550th Artillery Brigade, part of the 1st Armored Division and the National Defense Forces militia.

Last week, the Islamic State moved quickly through eastern Homs Province to take the historic city of Palmyra, as well as gas fields and a key pumping station.

See Syria Daily, May 21: Islamic State Takes Control of Ancient City of Palmyra


Reports: Rebels and Islamic State Fighting Along 25-Km Front in Northern Aleppo Province

Reports are circulating that rebels and the Islamic State are fighting along a 25-km (16-mile) front in northern Aleppo province.

The Islamic State, apparently believing that rebel fighters were diverted by attacks on regime positions to the south of Aleppo city, attacked along the front on Friday.

The militants tried to capture the town of Sawran, on the Turkish border and 22 km (14 miles) north of Aleppo city. They briefly held the town, but rebels reclaimed it later on Friday.

Sawran is to the north of Mare’, which has been the frontline of fighting between the Islamic State and rebels for months.

Battles broke out between the two sides in January 2014. The Islamic State was pushed out of much of Aleppo Province, but retained key positions in towns like al-Bab and Manbij.

With the Jaish al-Fatah coalition inflicting a series of major defeats on the Syrian military and likely to step up operations in Aleppo Province, prospects are rising of a showdown with the Islamic State, including over areas of Aleppo city.