The Islamic State (IS) seized towns in the Aleppo province in Syria in an attempt to form a worldwide caliphate. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the terrorists snatched Masoudiyeh, Dabiq, Akhtarin, and Ghouz from rebel forces against President Bashar al-Assad. The capture of these towns could cut off supplies to the rebels.
Jihadists posted pictures of their victories on social media.
#Aleppo #Syria1#IS soldiers bomb the Sahwat HQs, have dinner, review the plan and get ready to battle pic.twitter.com/yEvfreKikI
— ISLAMIC STATE NEWS (@isisnews3) August 13, 2014
#Aleppo #Syria2#IslamicState spoils from Sahwat pic.twitter.com/phnzBWeQ1c
— ISLAMIC STATE NEWS (@isisnews3) August 13, 2014
#Aleppo #SyriaBooks and foreign aids have been found with Sahwat pic.twitter.com/S66XtdhgHf
— ISLAMIC STATE NEWS (@isisnews3) August 13, 2014
Ghanaim (war spoils) captured by the #Islamic_State during battle in Akhtarin (#IS #IslamicState #Khilafah #Syria) pic.twitter.com/20geQupaEJ
— AbuUmar8246 (@AbuUmarAlAnsari) August 13, 2014
Ghanaim (war spoils) captured by the #Islamic_State during battle in Akhtarin (#IS #IslamicState #Khilafah #Syria) pic.twitter.com/U8Oqn5WcUQ
— AbuUmar8246 (@AbuUmarAlAnsari) August 13, 2014
On Tuesday, the Syrian army surrounded the city of Aleppo as the IS conquered the surrounding towns. Aleppo is Syria’s largest city and the Free Syrian Army fled there after Assad captured Homs. Experts said if the rebels lose Aleppo they will fall to Assad and possibly join IS.
“For the regime, this will be a crushing blow to the opposition as a viable fighting force and to its morale,” said Noah Bonsey, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group. “Some rebels may give up and seek a compromise with the regime, or look to join the only viable fighting force left, which is becoming ISIS.”
Assad’s regime did not target IS since the terrorists also eliminate the FSA. But if the regime holds Aleppo the forces might go after IS.