Rebels turn tables on regime as IS loses Syria bastion

[uhnope]

Source: TIME

Jihadists and rebels captured strategic military positions on the edges of Syria's second city Aleppo on Saturday, turning the tables on Russian-backed regime forces besieging the city.

To the northeast, a Western-backed alliance of Arab and Kurdish fighters scored a major victory against the Islamic State group in the town of Manbij after a fierce two-month battle.

The developments have rocked the key northern province of Aleppo, a microcosm of Syria's topsy-turvy, multi-front war that has killed more than 280,000 people.

Rebel and regime forces have fought for control of the provincial capital of the same name since mid-2012, transforming the former economic powerhouse into a divided, bombed-out city. On Saturday, opposition fighters and allied jihadists captured fresh territory south of Aleppo in a bid to cut off regime forces and open up a new route into besieged rebel-held districts.

Read more: http://www.timeslive.co.za/world/2016/08/06/Rebels-turn-tables-on-regime-as-IS-loses-Syria-bastion

---

Defeats for both ISIS and the Russia-Assad regime.

[Warpy]

1. There's not much left to defend

I read recently at the Beeb that something like 40% of the buildings have been destroyed and the rest damaged.