A total of 23 villages in the western and northern part of the city of Aleppo were liberated, as fighters from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra) fled, state broadcaster SANA reported on February 16.
For the first time since 2012, the Syrian army has established control of all areas around Aleppo. The good news caused Aleppo residents to flock to the streets to wave flags to celebrate, while the drivers blew their whistles.
Before the Syrian army's general offensive, the Russian air force had carried out many planned campaigns to pave the way for the Damascus government army to advance on Aleppo.
Aleppo was liberated in 2016 in a joint operation between Syrian and Russian forces, but anti-government fighters remain in the suburbs and nearby villages. Since then, they have frequently launched shelling attacks on the city, causing widespread damage to both people and property.
The Syrian army had previously lifted rebels off the strategic M5 highway connecting Aleppo and Damascus, clearing the main route connecting Syria's two largest cities after years of civil war.
This important victory in Aleppo province came just one day after a new round of talks between Turkey and Russia on escalating tensions in the region.
Turkey and Russia are scheduled to continue meeting today (February 17) in Moscow to discuss the above issues.
Turkish President Tayyip Putin affirmed that the country's army will push back Syrian government forces if they do not withdraw from Idlib by the end of February 2020.
