Thread by @Suriyakmaps

Another year is going to finish. 2020 has left us with fewer military events in the Syrian military conflict. Reflecting the enormous influence of the regional powers in the country, where the end of the war is still far away due to political blockade that has led to a stalemate

As we saw during the last days of 2019, #SAA had begun #Op_Redemption3 in order to retake M5 highway. After a small hiatus during the first weeks of January, Russian-Turkish negotiations failed & #SAA restarted the offensive by opening three axis S. #Idlib, S. #Aleppo & its city.

12 days before the restart of military advances #SAA had already liberated Maarrat al-Numan town & big parts of S. #Idlib countryside. However, the advance didn't stop & one week later #SAA liberated another stronghold, Saraqib, reaching M4 highway & joining with S. #Aleppo axis.

With rebel defenses totally collapsed #SAA continued advancing along M5 hihgway towards the outskirts of #Aleppo city. By the middle of February, #SAA liberated all western districts expelling all rebel groups from the area & fully securing provincial capital of any rebel attack.

All indicated offensive had finished. Nevertheless, #SAA begin #Op_Redemption4 in order to retake M4 highway. During the seven first days #SAA managed to capture important areas in Jabal Zawiyah & Shahshbo. All indicates another important rebel collapse was going to take place.

However, Turkey intervened with #SpringShieldOperation & reverse situation by helping rebels to retake some of the lost positions. During the next days, #SAA suffered important losses but managed to hold most of the liberate positions & retaking again the town of Saraqib.

In order to reduce tensions, Russia intervened & clashes stopped after an agreement between Turkey & Russia was reached, putting an end of any military operations N.W. #Syria for the rest of the year until a undefined date.

In 2020 #SAA liberated 2378 Km^2, the same territory Opposition forces lost during this year. On the other hand, #SDF didn't lose any other territory since the end of #PeaceSpringOperation

2021 will focus on 3 main points:
#Insurgence: Despite combing operations increased in #Hama, #Aleppo, #Homs & #Raqqa governorates #ISIS attacks still very active specially in desert areas, where a serious offensive was never launched despite the magnitude of these combing

operations, the recent example of yesterday attacks near Kabbajb shows how still a long way to end #ISIS menace. Same happen in #Daraa where Russian pasivity is avoiding a serious offensive in the province to solve insurgence attacks which have killed many soldiers this year.

E. #Syria: After #PeaceSpringOperation last year. Turkish army is lookinf for a new offensive in order to weaken #SDF & expand buffer zone along the Syrian border to host more refugees in these areas. The objetive seems to be the town of Ayn Issa wich is key for #SDF to join

with #Manbij & #Kobani. Thanks to Russian intervention, the offensive seems to be delayed for a while, but escalation is still latent and it's not discarded a future operation will take place there or another territory N.E. #Syria. Meanwhile, #SAA & Russian forces are slowly

increasing their presence with new checkpoints & bases in #SDF area, while Turkey solidify its presence in #SNA border strip control. However, the new U.S. Government might try to block the increase of Russian influence with new scalation in the region.

#Idlib: Almost nine months have passed since the ceasefire agreement was signed between Trueky & Russia, during these months #TSK have increased the number of troops in big numbers while new outpost were built in order to stop any future government offensive.

However, the recent Turkish withdrawal from 13 military points & outposts in government areas & the reports of new withdrawal from Jabal Zawiyah shows the failure of Sochi Agreements & opens the possibility of a future offensive in order to take the southern countryside of #Idlib

END. Thank you everybody for your time. @Suriyakmaps wishes you a happy New Year 2021. Hope this new year will be better to everybody. Take care & be safe. 🎉🍸👏🙏