Dear friends,
People ask what is going on in the Syrian city of Deir Hafer in the province of Aleppo. Some reports say that it is liberated and other that it is not liberated.
SF answers:
- Deir Hafer is de-facto liberated. ISIS terrorists withdrew from it earlier this week via the corridor existing northeast of the city (map);
- Now Deir Hafer is in the rear of government forces advancing against ISIS in the province;
- A notable part of the most combat-fit manpower (mostly Tiger Forces fighters) redeployed from Aleppo to the Hama front (more here);
- The remaining government forces are not rushing to enter the city. They are aware about casualties suffered by pro-Turkish forces in al-Bab from IEDs and suicide bombers. We recall a day after Turkey-led forces captured al-Bab, an ISIS suicide bomber killed at least 50 lives in an attack on a nearby command center.
- Government forces are now waiting for engineer units (most likely Russian) which will be able to demine the town. When engineer units deploy to the area, government forces will likely enter Deir Hafer with them.
