Hectic day in Idlibistan today:
a. Turk/TFSA/FSA/HTS/Al Qaeda - whatever you wish to call them - shot down a SyAF Mi8 helicopter. They used a MANPADS although you might read some Turk sources state a Turk F16 shot it down. This is not likely due to the RuAF control of the airspace. All crew KIA. MANPADS use is a bit of a red line for Putin and the Russians because of the origin (Turkey) of the MANPADS and the Russian response has been devastating to Turkey so far. Basically, if you're on the wrong side of the Forward Edge of the Battle Area, you're a target, no matter what the patch is on your sleeve.
b. Turk/TFSA/FSA/HTS/Al Qaeda counter-attack at NAYRAB. The counter-attack failed and SAA retain control of the town.
c. RuAF/SyAF strafed a Turk/TFSA/FSA/HTS/Al Qaeda column in the vicinity of QAMINAS. Pic from the alleged airstrike:
Note the "Turkish Army" points in SAA-controlled territory. These are Turk OPs that have been surrounded by the SAA.
d. SAA effectively secure the M5 highway from DAMASCUS to ALEPPO.
e. SAA liberated KHAN Al-ASAL, a western suburb of ALEPPO. This town is significant to the SAA because it was here where Jihadists executed 50+ SAA soldiers in 2013.
From here, SAA should head NW to close the bulge.
f. RuAF attack IDLIB city.