Despite the departure of the Cheetah Forces, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has been heavily reinforced by Hezbollah, who has recently aided their advance at every flank surrounding the Kuweiris Military Airbase in east Aleppo.

Effectively, the Syrian Arab Air Force has been able to resume military operations from the Kuweires Airport as their jets are able to reach sufficiently high altitudes prior to encountering ISIS anti-aircraft guns.

During the past week, the Islamic State has been forced to concede several villages in the eastern Aleppo countryside largely due to being outmanned by the SAA contingents.

Recently, ISIS has launched several failed offensives against the government-held towns of Al-Safirah, Tall Aran & the Aleppo supply route along the Khanasir-Ithriyah road; this has caused heavy casualties amongst ISIS fighters who otherwise could have been used to defend the villages surrounding the strategic Kuweiris Airbase.

This morning, government troops managed to capture several building blocks in the western district of Humaymah al-Kabirah; this leaves SAA positions a mere 4 kilometers from the major ISIS-stronghold of Deir Hafer.

Furthermore, the Syrian Army advanced to the outskirts of Nasrallah in Kuweires northern countryside, whilst entrenching their positions at the recently liberated village of ‘Arbeed, thereby securing a vital buffer zone alongside the river that flows north of the base.

Nevertheless, the main objective of the Syrian Military High Command seems to be the capture of the Aleppo Thermal Power Plant, which is geographically situated West of the Kuweiris Airbase and near the Aleppo-Raqqah Highway.

The Aleppo Power Plant is a 1,000 megawatt thermoelectric generator which would allow for a major restructuring of the energy supply to the Aleppo mainland if government forces were able to seize it.

Additionally, hundreds of ISIS fighters near Dakwanah and Halabiyah risk being encircled which would have us witness a miniature scenario similar to that of the Falaise Pocket during World War II.