[BostonCard]

Rebel forces have been seen in the center of Aleppo. The whole city likely to fall by tonight, with reports of large pockets of Syrian forces caught behind rebel lines and negotiating to surrender. Rebel forces on videos with captured tanks, MANPADS, and lots of other formerly Russian goodies.

Regime aligned sources have remarked on "foreign" fighters with the rebels. This can probably be read as Ukrainian intelligence. Syrian forces have attempted counter attacks, but rebel FPV drones have been very disruptive in their rear to these efforts at counterattack and reinforcement.

With Assad's Russian and Iranian supporters preoccupied, Syrian regime forces seem unable to stem this attack. Where they have fought they have lost, and otherwise they have been retreating. Russian air support seems very limited at the moment, not seeming to make any tactical attacks at the front line but a few terror attacks on civilians in rebel held areas.

https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/sy...yURL_share

Homs looks to be next.  I would feel much more positive about this if the rebel leader weren’t previously in Al Qaida and ISIS.  There’s word that Russia had started to get more involved, but there’s probably a limit to that given matters elsewhere.  Hezbollah, too, has been an Assad supporter, but not sure how much of an organized fighting force can be mustered at the moment.  Iran, too, has issues, with the IRGC commander in Syria killed by an Israeli airstrike.

BC

[BostonCard]

Rebel forces have been seen in the center of Aleppo. The whole city likely to fall by tonight, with reports of large pockets of Syrian forces caught behind rebel lines and negotiating to surrender. Rebel forces on videos with captured tanks, MANPADS, and lots of other formerly Russian goodies.

Regime aligned sources have remarked on "foreign" fighters with the rebels. This can probably be read as Ukrainian intelligence. Syrian forces have attempted counter attacks, but rebel FPV drones have been very disruptive in their rear to these efforts at counterattack and reinforcement.

With Assad's Russian and Iranian supporters preoccupied, Syrian regime forces seem unable to stem this attack. Where they have fought they have lost, and otherwise they have been retreating. Russian air support seems very limited at the moment, not seeming to make any tactical attacks at the front line but a few terror attacks on civilians in rebel held areas.

https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/sy...yURL_share

Homs looks to be next.  I would feel much more positive about this if the rebel leader weren’t previously in Al Qaida and ISIS.  There’s word that Russia had started to get more involved, but there’s probably a limit to that given matters elsewhere.  Hezbollah, too, has been an Assad supporter, but not sure how much of an organized fighting force can be mustered at the moment.  Iran, too, has issues, with the IRGC commander in Syria killed by an Israeli airstrike.

BC