On March 15, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies liberated the village of Hamuriyah in the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta from members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) and Faylaq al-Rahman.
The liberation of Hamuriyah allowed the SAA to open a new humanitarian corridor there. Over 12,500 civilians were evacuated from Hamuriyah and nearby areas.
Additionally, the SAA once again re-established control over the village of al-Rayhanah east of the town of Douma controlled by Jaish al-Islam.
On March 16, the SAA advanced on the village of Saqba and launched another attempt to establish control over the village of Jisreen.
On March 15 and March 16, the Turkish Armed Forces and the Free Syrian Army captured over 20 villages from the Kurdish People’s Protection Units in the area of Afrin. The TAF and the FSA are working to capture the remaining YPG-held area north and northeast of the city. However, the southern road out of Afrin remains open.
A U.S. HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter reportedly crashed in the western Iraqi province of Anbar on March 15. According to media reports, the helicopter was carrying seven persons on board. All of them reportedly died. The U.S. Central Command officially confirmed the incident but provided no details about the helicopter type and the alleged casualties. The investigation is ongoing.
Today, Ghouta and tomorrow Daraa. Elijah Magnier on the upcoming critical battle close to the Israeli border.
https://ejmagnier.com/2018/03/16/the-regional-international-demarcation-line-in-daraa-is-approaching-flashpoint/
More on the upcoming battle in Daraa:
“Sources say, thousands of Hizballah moved from several places inside Syria toward Daraa and Quneytra.
It is a fact that after East Ghouta, southern Syria (and that includes al Tanf) will be liberated.
Jordan regime king is in pure state of desperation, he knows pay back is coming and not as invasion but as internal civil war.”
Newsweek
http://www.newsweek.com/now-mattis-admits-there-was-no-evidence-assad-using-poison-gas-his-people-801542
Updated: Jaysh al-Islam claims it shot down a Syrian helicopter with OSA air defense system over East Ghouta (Photos)
https://southfront.org/jaysh-al-islam-claims-shot-syrian-helicopter-osa-air-defense-system-east-ghouta-photos/
Both 2 Pockets, can be taken using heavy artillery only, Any other tactics can be very costly, or fail.
Afrin. Almost. Gone. Latest map:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DYcHiWKW4AIoJrQ.jpg:large
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201803171062624847-syria-russia-liberation-military-security/
latest summary re Syria…resettlement…aid etc