Report from Syria - 02/15/2016

BREAKING: TIGER FORCES ENTER THE THERMAL POWER PLANT IN EAST ALEPPO

http://southfront.org/breaking-tiger-forces-enter-the-thermal-power-plant-in-east-aleppo/

Map by SAA Reporter

Al-Masdar reported, a few hours ago, the “Tiger Forces” – the special forces elite unit of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) – have just entered in the strategic Thermal Power Plant located in eastern Aleppo.

According to Al-Masdar sources, the Syrian forces entered the station after Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) militants fled from their positions witouth fighting.

Currently, the Tiger Forces are securing the area and cleaning the station and its surroundings from IEDs the terrorists planted before abandoning the plant.

This is just another key advance for the Syrian Armed Forces since they began an offensive in eastern part of the Aleppo governorate in late 2015.

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Breaking: Kurdish forces attack rebel-controlled district in Aleppo City

The predominately Kurdish “People’s Protection Units” (YPG) – alongside Jaysh Al-Thuwwar of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) – have launched an overnight assault at the Islamist-controlled district of Al-Hillak inside the provincial capital of the Aleppo Governorate after a successful military operation in which they seized the rebel stronghold of Tal Rifa’at.

According to several military sources inside the provincial capital, the YPG and SDF fighters launched a powerful attack on the Islamist defenses at Al-Hillak from their positions at nearby Sheikh Maqsoud, entering this long standing rebel stronghold in Aleppo City after a violent battle with Jabhat Al-Nusra (Syrian Al-Qaeda group), the Free Syrian Army (FSA), Harakat Nouriddeen Al-Zinki, and Jabhat Al-Shamiyah.

The military source added that the Russian Air Force has been reportedly striking the Islamist defenses with their aircraft machine guns, propelling the Kurdish forces to enter the Al-Hillak District from its western perimeter that borders the Sheikh Maqsoud District.

Currently, clashes are ongoing between the Islamist rebels and the Kurdish Forces inside Al-Hillak, with the aforementioned group advancing at several different points in the district’s western sector.

If the Islamist rebels lose the Al-Hillak District to the Kurdish forces, they will ultimately be cutoff from the Bustan Al-Pasha District, where they are currently involved in a violent battle with the government forces.

UN peace envoy makes surprise visit in Damascus

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/28797/

The United Nations Syrian peace envoy – led by Staffan de Mistura – reportedly made a surprise visit to Damascus on Monday in order to discuss a long-term ceasefire with the Syrian Government.

According to government sources, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mou’allem is expected to meet with Staffan de Mistura and his staff on early Tuesday; this comes one week after the proposed ceasefire agreement by Russia was accepted by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and the U.S.’ allies