Northern Aleppo offensive (February 2016)
The Northern Aleppo offensive (February 2016) refers to a military operation launched northwest of Aleppo in early February 2016 by the Syrian Arab Army and its allies. The offensive successfully broke the three-year Siege of Nubl and Al-Zahraa, effectively cutting off the main supply route of the Syrian rebels from Turkey.[2]
Iranian and Russian support[edit]
Iran's General Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force, was reported to be present in the area and overseeing operations, whilst the Iranian contingent of the allied forces have reportedly played a crucial role in the victories of the Syrian army and its allies.[20] A total of 14–24 IRGC advisors died,[23][172] including Brigadier General Mohsen Ghajarian (محسن قاجاریان), commander of the 21st Imam Reza Armored Brigade of Neyshabur and an Iran–Iraq War veteran,[173][174] who was advising the allied troops during the assault when he and another six Iranians were killed.[21][175]
Russian air support provided to the ground forces during their onslaught in northern Aleppo was said to be one of the main reasons for the string of successes against the rebels in the offensive.[16][17] During the offensive, heavy Russian air strikes destroyed all three health facilities in the town of Anadan.[176]
SDF role[edit]
The Iranian IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency reported that the Kurdish-led People's Protection Units (YPG) were helping the Syrian Army, as the SDF of Efrîn captured the villages of Al-Ziyare and Kharebeh in the Shirava district. Fars' reports claimed that wounded Syrian government forces were sent to the Kurdish region.[177]