Rebel fighters celebrate with their weapons as they pose in Jisr al-Shughour town, after they took control of the area April 25, 2015. Reuters/Ammar Abdullah
Reuters: Islamist fighters seize Syria's Jisr al-Shughour, army says redeploys
(Reuters) - Islamist insurgents including al-Qaeda's wing in Syria, Nusra Front, captured the northwestern Syrian town of Jisr al-Shughour on Saturday, for the first time in the four-year-old conflict.
Syrian state media said the army had redeployed to the town's surroundings "to avoid civilian casualties". They said the army was battling "a large number of terrorists coming from the Turkish border."
The capture of the strategic town is the latest in a series of setbacks for government forces in the south and the north.
More News On The Syrian Military's Defeat At Jisr al-Shughour
Syria conflict: Islamists capture Jisr al-Shughur -- BBC
Islamist rebels capture major Syrian stronghold in Idlib province -- Deutsche Welle
Withdrawing Syria troops 'executed' prisoners: activists -- Daily Star/AFP
Islamist militants advance on key regime outpost in Idlib -- Al Bawaba
Insurgents Take Strategic Syrian Town -- VOA
Islamist militants advance on key regime outpost in Idlib -- Al Bawaba
Islamist insurgents take over strategic Syrian town -- Haaretz
Syrian government reportedly loses stronghold in Idlib -- Al Jazeera
5 comments:
Iran winning !?!
The value of this town is way more than the reports say. In case if I have some free time will explaine what I mean, maybe tomorow.
mlacix.
I look forward to your report tomorrow or maybe in the future.
Jisr al-Shughour puts Al Qaeda on or near M4 and it is a crossroads.
The SA army really does not need M4 at this point ( I think), since it is so far north and they evacuated Idlib.
The SA is doing what the Germans did not do under the illustrious leadership of the corporal. They are conserving their manpower.
Still Al Qaeda has more control of the roads, are closer to more of Latakia and can threaten it from more axis, and Turkey it seems is allowing their losses to be replaced.
Turkey is turning a few people away from the border, but maybe those are people that Al Qaeda did not want and Al Qaeda and Turkey a throwing a few back to the West so as to make Erdogan's Turkey look like a good world citizen.
Al Qaeda was in this region before (last year)after Turkey allowed Al Qaeda to attack from its' territory. Al Qaeda was pushed back some.
I always enjoy reading your analysis mlacix. Hope you have the time to post something.
I think the lost of Jisr al-Shughur (later I simply will call it as Shughul) is way more important than the reports says. Reports say that from this town the rebels could advance into Latakia, and a rebel leader stated that Latakia is now in their range of fire. I see this threat's value minimal. To do so rebles should clean out a not so small area of SAA territory, which is a hard military task for them. I do not saying they are not able to do so, because they concentrated large forces in this area, but this gonna take some time, and SAA will step up to stop this. Latakia was in danger before, like the temporaly loss of Kassab and the northern areas of that province, and rebels already hold parts of Latakia. Latakia in this picture is more about media and propaganda, but the real value of this town is more.
One month ago, when SAA retreated from Idlib, it was not clear, what will be the next step of the Army of Conquer (al-Fatah, the operation room that has been created when the attack on Idlib started, later on I will just call them as AC). The question for me is that the attack on Shughul is a phase of a well pre-planed series of operations, or not. If the answer is yes, than this is one of the best operation that rebel groups made during this conflict. When SAA sent Tiger's forces to Idlib, instead of some other regular forces, it was clear they wanted to not just stabilise the front, but form it to a better shape for defending, or they well know how much enemy forces are focued in this frontline.
The attack on Shughul area has the chance to cut the SAA units in Idlib province into two. And the biggest problem with this is, that the units to the east ( just about 20+km long along the M4 route ) gonna be encircled, including Tiger's forces. Now I have no idea that AC planned to set up is trap against Tiger or it's just turned our that way, but crushing the enemy's best forces is a bold strategy. If it's work, it's going to be the biggest loss for SAA during this war. But on the other hand if there is an unit that can survive this battle, thats Tiger. Those who do not really know Tiger's style, he is very offensive Colonel, mostly with minimal armoured support, and quick offensives. He was the one who break trough in East Aleppo, from Brigade base 80 to Aleppo Central Prison, and even more. Now the terrain not in their favor, and the situation is difficult, so expect dÃnamic frontline moves, advancing and retreats from both side.
If we handle the attack on Shughul as a phase of a larger operation, the early capture of Idlib city got real value. By taking Idlib early on, they take the chance from SAA to use it as a dig-in defence location. Currently there are only one town, Ariha remained in the supposedly encircled area, which mean the defenders need to take the fight in open, or semi-open areas, which is a big disadvantage. Also, because we talking about Tiger's forces, they are an offensive force, not the best for defending this kind of locations.
The following days will be very important on does the route between the deep SAA forces and Latakia can be kept open or not. If they loose it, SAA may face heavy casualties. Rebels with AC looks like finally managed to create a large force, which is able to attack, make offenses and even with short meantimes. But I feel that AC is the last hope of the rebels on the north. They concentrated so much unit, resources and forces in one place, that if they loose it, there is no way to replace them. This summer will be dificult for SAA in the North-West, so expect reports of heavy fighings in this part of Syria. Sending Tiger deep into enemy territory may could be the best of worst scenario for SAA.
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