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ISIS troops take more villages in northern Syria
[ARA News] ALEPPO – Subsequent to fierce clashes with Syrian rebel groups, militant fighters of the Islamic State (ISIS) were able to seize control of several areas in the northern province of Aleppo, killing a number of rebels during the fighting, local and military sources reported on Wednesday.

Local activists confirmed that ISIS has been attempting to regain the villages and towns that have recently fallen to the rebels.

Speaking to ARA News in Aleppo, rebel spokesman Saleh al-Zein said that ISIS terrorists carried out Wednesday a major offensive on the villages and towns fell to rebel groups during the past few days in Aleppo suburbs.

“The terror group has taken over the towns and villages of Dudyan, Yahmoul, Jarez, Telil al-Hisin and al-Fayrouziya on the Syria-Turkey borderline following rebels’ withdrawal due to the ISIS-led intensified rocket fire on their headquarters in the area,” al-Zein reported.

The source pointed out that ISIS carried out two car bomb attacks on the entrance of the Dudyan town and in the vicinity of Tel Hussein village, causing the rebels heavy losses in manpower and equipment.

“Backed by Turkish artillery bombardment, rebel groups of the Sham Corps and the 1st regiment Squad and the Sultan Murad Brigade responded to the ISIS-led offensive, targeting the group’s strongholds in the areas surrounding the strategic towns of al-Raee, Qasajik, al-Bal and Dudyan with mortars and hell cannons, causing direct injuries among ISIS ranks,” al-Zein told ARA News.

However, ISIS jihadis were able to advance in the region despite the Turkish bombardment on the group’s locations near the Syrian-Turkish border.

ARA News could not verify the death toll among ISIS insurgents.

Two weeks ago, ISIS was able to seize control of the strategic town of al-Raee in northern Aleppo subsequent to fierce battles with rebel fighters.

If Syrian rebels were able to capture the villages of Soran, Ahtimlat and Doabak, they could easily fortify their presence in Aleppo province, which may lead to retaking the strategic town of al-Raee from ISIS on the Turkish-Syrian border, according to military sources.

Rebel factions are now launching hit and run attacks on ISIS militants in the key town al-Raee, amid continuous attempts to cut the group’s supply lines in the bordering towns with Turkey.
Posted by: badanov 2016-04-28
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=454084