The Syrian Arab Army’s “Tiger Forces” will not be returning to the east Aleppo front anytime soon because they have now been tasked with a different objective that will make their past missions seem minuscule in comparison to the present.

Following the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham’s (ISIS) abrupt offensive that cutoff the Syrian government’s only supply route to the Aleppo Governorate, the Tiger Forces were given direct orders from Syrian Arab Army’s Central Command to redeploy to the desert-city of Ithriya and await further instruction.

Since the Khanasser-Aleppo Road is now free of danger, the Tiger Forces and their pro-government allies are preparing for what is likely to be the largest military operation launched during this brutal conflict.

The Tiger Forces’ presence in Ithriya is no coincidence, they are going to assault the western countryside of the Al-Raqqa Governorate and they are going to lead the operation to liberate the Tabaqa Military Airport from ISIS.

The desert-city of Ithriya is strategically located in the Hama Governorate’s northeastern countryside; it borders the Aleppo Governorate to the north and it is situated 15 km west of the Al-Raqqa axis.

This operation is part of a much larger military initiative that includes the recapture of Palmyra (Tadmur) and Jaroud Qarah in the Qalamoun Mountains from ISIS.

Sources from the Tiger Forces have confirmed their location and they have even provided insight into their future operations.

When will this offensive start? It is likely going to begin in the coming weeks as the local militias and the Syrian Arab Army clean-up the Khanasser countryside.