The predominately Kurdish “People’s Protection Units” (YPG) – alongside Jaysh Al-Thuwwar of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) – have launched an overnight assault at the Islamist-controlled district of Al-Hillak inside the provincial capital of the Aleppo Governorate after a successful military operation in which they seized the rebel stronghold of Tal Rifa’at.

According to several military sources inside the provincial capital, the YPG and SDF fighters launched a powerful attack on the Islamist defenses at Al-Hillak from their positions at nearby Sheikh Maqsoud, entering this long standing rebel stronghold in Aleppo City after a violent battle with Jabhat Al-Nusra (Syrian Al-Qaeda group), the Free Syrian Army (FSA), Harakat Nouriddeen Al-Zinki, and Jabhat Al-Shamiyah.

The military source added that the Russian Air Force has been reportedly striking the Islamist defenses with their aircraft machine guns, propelling the Kurdish forces to enter the Al-Hillak District from its western perimeter that borders the Sheikh Maqsoud District.

Currently, clashes are ongoing between the Islamist rebels and the Kurdish Forces inside Al-Hillak, with the aforementioned group advancing at several different points in the district’s western sector.

If the Islamist rebels lose the Al-Hillak District to the Kurdish forces, they will ultimately be cutoff from the Bustan Al-Pasha District, where they are currently involved in a violent battle with the government forces.