Syrian Government Army Recaptures Khanasir Town in Aleppo Province

On Thursday, March 6, the Syrian government army, with the support of Russian air forces, managed to recapture Khanasir town in Aleppo province from militants of the group known as the 'Islamic State' (ISIS). According to the Associated Press, the Islamic State had blocked the Syrian army's access to the provincial center, the city of Aleppo, by capturing Khanasir earlier this week. However, after three days of heavy fighting, government forces succeeded in reclaiming the town. Khanasir is located about 50 kilometers south of Aleppo, and the main route to the provincial center passes through this town. The Associated Press adds that despite the recapture of Khanasir, the war between the Syrian army and ISIS militants continues to open the route leading to Aleppo. The report also cites the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, stating that the recapture of Khanasir was made possible with Russian air support and the presence of pro-government Shiite militias alongside the Syrian army. The Syrian army continues to advance in the areas surrounding this town, with only two days remaining until the establishment of a ceasefire between the forces of Bashar al-Assad's government and its armed opponents. However, this ceasefire does not include the Islamic State group and the al-Nusra Front, which is a branch of al-Qaeda. The Syrian opposition, which has announced its agreement to the ceasefire, has emphasized that its concerns about the implementation of such a plan remain, as they argue that this plan does not provide any clear mechanism for execution. Barack Obama, the President of the United States, has also stated that expectations from this agreement should be very cautious, but if the ceasefire reduces the intensity of violence, it could then serve as a basis for establishing a long-term ceasefire.