The Syrian Arab Army’s “Cheetah Forces” (Tiger Forces branch) – in coordination with National Defense Forces (NDF) of Aleppo City and Kataebat Al-Ba’ath (Al-Ba’ath Battalions) – continued their advance to the Kuweires Military Airport on Friday, capturing several building blocks from the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) inside the town of Sheikh Ahmad in the Deir Hafer Plains.

The Cheetah Forces and their allies began their assault at the southern district of Sheikh Ahmad, where they were confronted by a large contingent of fighters from ISIS; this attack resulted in the aforementioned terrorist group’s retreat towards the town-center after they had their positions overrun by the pro-government forces.

Following their advance into the town-center, the Cheetah Forces and their allies imposed full control over Sheikh Ahmad’s central district after several airstrikes from the Russian Air Force’s SU-24 fighter jets weakened ISIS’ frontline defenses and paved the way for the pro-government forces to enter this area with little resistance.

Not long after taking control of both the southern and central districts of Sheikh Ahmad, the Cheetah Forces and their allies continued their march towards Kuweires Military Airport after capturing the Railroad barrier inside the eastern district of the town; this allowed for the Syrian Armed Forces to cross the Aleppo-Baghdad Railroad that passes through the east Aleppo.

With the recent success in the large town of Sheikh Ahmad, the Syrian Armed Forces are now 2.5km away from the Kuweires Military Airport’s frontlines – if they are able to reach the Aleppo-Raqqa Highway at the southwest perimeter of the airport, they will have lifted the 2 year long siege imposed by ISIS.