Syrian Army Drives ISIL Out of Villages Around Key Airbase Near Aleppo

The Syrian Army has reportedly driven ISIL militants out of all of the villages near Kweiris Airbase in the eastern part of Aleppo province.

Supported by the National Defense Forces, the Syrian Army managed to regain control of all villages near Kweiris Airbase in eastern Aleppo province from Islamic State militants, sources said. 

It was reported that terrorists were driven out of settlements located 40 kilometers east of the city of Aleppo.

Additionally, the government forces took control of part of the Aleppo-Raqqa highway, which is located two kilometers from the Kweiris base.

#Syria: PHOTO: #SAA T-72B on the #Aleppo — #Raqqa (Deir Hafir) road area near #Kweiris Air Base. pic.twitter.com/sdjDWBuk1n

— Rook (@2Rook14) 24 ноября 2015

It means that the army cut off the main supply route of the Islamic State group leading from the city of Raqqa, according to the sources.

Media reports said that during the offensive, the army seized a large number of enemy artillery pieces and systems equipped with homemade rockets.

It was also reported that militants suffered heavy losses in manpower and materiel and that they are retreating in the direction of Raqqa.

Kweiris Airbase has been besieged by terrorist groups for more than three years. The airport's garrison of about 1,000 officers and soldiers repelled over 400 attacks by militants, killing about 1,500 terrorists.

On November 10, the army managed to break the blockade of Kuveyris Airbase, in a move that won the personal praise of Syrian President Bashar Assad.