Aleppo International Airport: Back to Work

Written by Hussein Mortada*

A new achievement for the Syrian Army, in Aleppo. First airplane landed at Aleppo International Airport after one year of suspending its services.
The armed groups flew off the handle when the achievements of the Syrian Army started by heading through Aleppo southeastern countryside according to a well prepared plan.

After regaining control over the town of Tal Arn, the militants attacked the thermal power station, which supplies the city of Aleppo and its surroundings with electricity.

Victory signs flashed as the Syrian Army arrived into the town of Tal Hasel, located east of Aleppo Airport. Tal Hasel gathered a large amount of militants from Al Nusra Front.

The Syrian Army set up the bases of mortar fire and dozens of Doshka-equipped vehicles to unblock a road between Aleppo International Airport and the Defense Plants, and to secure the surroundings of the airport to resume its service. Whether because it's a symbol of sovereignty, or because it's the most important supply routes.

The Syrian Army retook the town of Dwairina and looked forward to the town of al-Nakarin. The military operation was over a Psychiatric Hospital and the town of Dwairina in order to secure an area for the Army backup forces to control several countries by fire. Therefore, heading to the country of al-Nakarin was a must since the armed groups attacked through it the arriving planes, and disrupted the airport service.

Al-Nakarin battle was a decisive battle to secure the area of Aleppo International Airport.

The Syrian Army, through al-Nakarin Battle, was able to liberate a strategic area from the outskirts of Aleppo International Airport into strategic hills surrounding the industrial zone, Brigade 80, and oversees the roads connecting to Aleppo. Another secured area stretches from the hill of at-Tayyarah into the hills of 57, al-Majbal, al-Taana, and al-Subaihi. This operation led to an ensured safe landing for Civilian airplanes into Aleppo International Airport.

The armed groups used the blockage of Aleppo International Airport to increase the pressure over the Syrian Government. They took advantage of it whether militarily, politically, or humanly, and on the battles progress in Aleppo.
Al-Nusra Front attempted more than ten times to attack the airport, with the help of tens or even thousands of fighters.

But the Syrian Army, in conjunction with several operations in the rural areas of Aleppo and within the City, was able to continue its military operation. This operation was intended to ensure a secured area needed for the arrival and departure of civilian airplanes.

This shift will help bring Aleppo City back into life. Aleppo is considered as the gate of the East. Therefore, it will affect the conduct of operations in the eastern provinces, mainly: al-Raqqa, Deir el-Zor, and al-Hasakah. It will provide as well the access of supply into the city of Aleppo, and the return of the residents.

As for the strategic importance of Aleppo airport resuming aviation, a military source summed it up to the al-Ahed Website by several points. Most important of these points is the ability of the Syrian Army to retake the initiative in all clashes along Aleppo countryside, after securing the road of Khanasser, then resuming aviation in Aleppo airport, which will release the pressure on several areas in the northern and northeastern countryside of Aleppo.

The source pointed out that the progress made by the Syrian Army in the area surrounding the airport, put several regions under its crossfire, mainly the industrial zone at the outskirts of Sheikh Najjar. This will help it break the siege of Central Prison in Aleppo, by that cutting off supply to militants coming from the town of al-Muslimia.

The military source assured to al-Ahed that the Syrian Army is significantly approaching the neighborhood of Dawar al-Marja, which is the main gate of Northern Aleppo neighborhoods where the armed groups are gathered.

*Source: al-Ahed news, translated by website team