ALEPPO, Syria — At 3:30 a.m. Sept. 23, Syrians heard the first strikes of the international alliance against the locations of the Islamic State (IS) and others the United States considers terror groups.
In the northern Aleppo countryside, where confrontations continue between IS and the rebels along a front line that stretches over 45 km (28 miles), the military map has not changed. Both parties are maintaining the positions that have been under their control since Aug. 13 after IS took over 13 villages and approached the strategic town of Marea, the largest opposition stronghold in the area.