Aleppo: Syrian Army downs 2nd al Nusra Front drone in 4 Months in the north of Aleppo

BY LEITH FADEL ON JANUARY 19, 2015 MIDDLE EAST
Earlier today, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) downed a reconnaissance drone that belonged to the Al-Qaeda linked “Al-Nusra Front (Jabhat Al-Nusra) in the northeastern Aleppo village of Sayfaat. The reconnaissance drone was seen by the SAA flying over northeastern Aleppo, capturing images of the latter from a low altitude; this made the drone easy to spot, despite its relatively small size. This is the second drone that the Syrian Army has downed in the Aleppo Governorate over the last 4 months.

The Al-Nusra Front – backed by Jaysh Al-Mujahiddeen – attempted to infiltrate into the Al-Zahra Association Quarter in western Aleppo, attacking the SAA and National Defense Forces from the western perimeter. The infiltration attempt was thwarted after the Al-Nusra Front and Jaysh Al-Mujahiddeen were caught in the open and subsequently pounded by loyalist gunfire that resulted in their withdrawal.

In southern Aleppo, the SAA and NDF continued their offensive at Al-‘Amariyya, targeting the Islamic Front’s largest militia “Harakat ‘Ahrar ‘Ahrar Al-Sham” (Liberators of the Levant Movement) in the Central District. The majority of firefights the loyalist experienced were reported from the Al-‘Amariyya-Sheikh Sa’eed Road in southern Aleppo; this front has recently expanded since the arrival of reinforcements.

Also in southern Aleppo, the SAA was able to obstruct a counter-offensive by the militants of Harakat ‘Ahrar Al-Sham at Bastaan Al-Qasir (Al-Qasir Orchards) after almost 72 straight hours of non-stop fighting. According to a military source, Harakat ‘Ahrar Al-Sham suffered an imperative defeat in this area, due in large part to the significant casualties they experienced during the battle.

The SAA conducted a number of raids on Islamic Front positions near Jabboul Lake that resulted in the destruction of 2 pick-up trucks mounted with 23mm anti-aircraft machine guns and the death of 9 militants from the latter.

Firefights in the imperative village of Al-Bureijj located in northeastern Aleppo intensified on Monday morning, as both loyalist and rebel forces exchanged a barrage of gunfire and artillery shells in order to expand their control over enemy positions. Despite the fierce clashes, both sides were unable to gain any significant ground to create a map change.

The Anti-Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) Coalition targeted a number of Al-Nusra Front hideouts in the western Aleppo village of Kafr Halab, destroying a multitude of vehicles and hideouts belonging to the latter in this area.

CITIZENS REPORT IN ALEPPO SYRIA 2014

Full Article is HERE

The report was developed by interviewing citizens in Aleppo, Syria on a monthly basis. It is a street block by street block analysis.

The citizens were asked a variety of questions such as:
Who do you think is the legitimate representative of the Syrian people?
Who provides security?
Where do people turn to settle their disputes, or in the event of a crime or theft?
Who controls the checkpoints?
How restrictive are the checkpoints?
How often do you let your children out of the home?
How frequent are crimes?

The report also focuses on:
Location of check points and road blocks
Location of bakeries
Price of bread
Access to electricity

I am currently still reviewing the report, and I will be writing several articles/blog posts with summaries, findings, and links to additional sources of reliable information/data regarding Syria.

So far I can state a few things in regards to Aleppo and Syria:

1. The center of Aleppo was not rebelling against the regime, so the rebels took the fight to those areas. The center of the city is now the most fought over and the residents movement is now very restrictive.
2. Regime forces control about 45% of Aleppo. The Syrian Air Force Intelligence oversees regime-controlled areas away from the front lines. The Republican Guard is deployed to protect some of Aleppo’s most tense front lines.
3. Bread in regime held areas is about 1/3rd to 1/5th the cost compared to rebel held areas.
4. 40% of the people feel that “no one” represents them,
5. Al Qaeda-affiliates remain strong in Aleppo. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria ISIS controls 1/3rd of all opposition held neighborhoods. Their checkpoints are the most restrictive and........ READ MORE HERE 

Dr. David Kilcullen and Mr. Nate Rosenblatt of Caerus Associates who will provide a briefing on findings from what may be the most detailed, publicly available assessment of the ongoing conflict in Syria to date.

Findings are based on four months of in-depth, time-series research from within Aleppo, Syria’s largest, most diverse, and most economically relevant city. Today, Aleppo is one of the most divided cities in the country. Tomorrow, its future may resemble that of other, large, non-capital cities in post-conflict Middle Eastern states such as Libya’s Benghazi or Iraq’s Mosul.

Video Link HERE

New report by David Kilcullen and others regarding Aleppo Syria

David Kilcullen and others have completed a 4 month review of the situation and facts on the ground within Aleppo Syria. The findings have been compiled into a 97 page report about their findings. They interviewed people in both rebel and regime held areas.

I have been reviewing the report and this is the first of my summary of findings regarding the report.

So far I can state a few things are obvious in regards to Aleppo and Syria:

1. The center of Aleppo was not rebelling against the regime, so the rebels took the fight to those areas. The center of the city is now the most fought over and the residents movement is now very restrictive.
2. Regime forces control about 45% of Aleppo. The Syrian Air Force Intelligence oversees regime-controlled areas away from the front lines. The Republican Guard is deployed to protect some of Aleppo’s most tense front lines.
3. Bread in regime held areas is about 1/3rd to 1/5th the cost compared to rebel held areas.
4. 40% of the people feel that “no one” represents them,
5. Al Qaeda-affiliates remain strong in Aleppo. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria ISIS controls 1/3rd of all opposition held neighborhoods. Their checkpoints are the most restrictive and intimidating, residents avoid these checkpoints as  much as possible.
6. There is 62 different CSO’s Civil Society Organizations acting within Aleppo.
7. ISIS Controlled the Aleppo national Hospital for the entire period of the survey until January 8th 2014, when rebel forces stormed the Hospital to release several hundred of their brothers in arms who had been imprisoned by ISIS. Since the takeover stories have emerged about the brutality of ISIS
8. The Busiest checkpoints are regime held. At each of these checkpoints approximately 35,000 – 45,000 people cross each day. As many as 60% do so to buy foodstuffs. Opposition held areas have banned people from regime areas to buy foodstuffs in rebel held areas. Many of these people cross to visit family, receive salaries, and even to pay their utility bills.
9. The areas with the highest crime are in the rebel held areas.
10. The rebels control most of the north, north eastern, eastern and southeast areas of Aleppo
11. The Syrian regime controls the west and into the center of Aleppo
12. North of Aleppo is Turkey. This is where most of the weapons are flowing from to supply all of the various rebel groups. Also foreign fighters enter via Turkey into Syria north of Aleppo.
13. The rebels are supported by various domestic and foreign Islamic charities.
14. The ISIS is back by al Qaeda and it gets its money from various sources around the world. The main backers are wealthy Arab Sunni’s in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt.
    
    Read more here at my main Blog