Aleppo, Syria (11:53 P.M.) – As Islamic State terrorists continue their mass retreat from northeastern Aleppo to consolidate their defense lines around the key city of Al-Bab, the largest ISIS stronghold in Aleppo province, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is engaged in a hasty race with the Turkish-backed FSA jihadist conglomeration (includes Faylaq Al-Sham, Sultan Murad, Jabhat Al-Shamiyah, and Ahrar Al-Sham) over eating up the abandoned villages in the aforementioned corner of the province.

Backed by coalition airstrikes, Turkish artillery, and Turkish Special Forces, the Islamist rebels managed to seize half a dozen villages without engaging in a single firefight until clashing with advancing SDF militants. After a short battle, the SDF managed to grasp the town of Amarinah north of Sajur river from the clutches of the FSA as Vice President Biden threatened the YPG with halting US support if Kurdish forces do not retreat east of the Euphrates.

As Turkish artillery rains fire on SDF positions north of Manbij, clashes between the two camps are expected to intensify and extend over more fronts in the troubled province. Meanwhile, Kurds in Hasakah are engaged in a massive battle against the Islamic State terror group as the latter attempts to advance on the strategic city of Shaddadi.