Click to see the full-size map. Source: @Tutomap/Twitter
Yesterday, SF reported that Turkish forces storming the key ISIS-controlled town of al-Bab in the Syrian province of Aleppo. The Turkish Armed Forces and pro-Turkey militant groups deployed singificant forces (up to 9,000 fighters) for the operation and successfully used the crisis of Syrian government forces near Palmyra to advance in Aleppo province.
But what battle plan do Turkish forces have?
According to aviable photo and video evidence from the ground, forward detachments of Turkish forces have deployed near the al-Bab silos and deployed to cut off the roads of M4 and 212 that could be used by the Syrian army and Kurdish YPG forces to advance on al-Bab.
If Ankara-led forces are able to cut off these roads and to successfully outflank the area of al-Bab and to secure the area west and southwest of the town, they will pose themselves in a winning situation in military and diplomatic terms.
In this case, the Syrian army will likely not been able to openly assist YPG forces in their operations in the area because this will mean a direct confronation with the Turkish Armed Forces. The Erdogan regime will likely be able to seize the town and to improve its position in negotiations with Damascus and Moscow.
Geolocation by @QalaatAlMudiq/Twitter
