Published by Komnews.com on February 2, 2017
Syrian Arab Army (red) has according to reports reached the line of the Syrian Democratic Forces (yellow). The territories held by the Euphrates Shield in the north are green and those of the Islamic State are grey.
The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies have reached the lines of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to the east of al-Bab and southwest of Manbij on Monday, according to local sources.
The Tiger Forces, a relatively small special forces unit of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), has reached the front lines controlled by the SDF, the sources said. Thus, government forces now border the SDF which means Aleppo is connected to Manbij and the autonomous administration in northern Syria (Rojava).
Analysts have said that the Euphrates Shield operation conducted by the Turkish army and their allies fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army would now be blocked from advancing further down into Syrian territory held by the Islamic State (IS) towards the Euphrates River.
