Developments in Syria have picked up speed rapidly in the past two weeks, and the situation is only becoming more complicated.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces, supported by Russian warplanes, are trying to control critical supply routes between Turkey and Aleppo. Ankara has declared the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) a terrorist organization because of its organic ties to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and expansion of its Afrin canton in western Kurdistan northwest of Aleppo.

In this surge of activity, new developments demand attention. One such development is the YPG advance to the east. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu declared that Turkey will not allow the fall of Azaz, but the YPG captured Tell Rifaat just south of Azaz with the first-ever overt Russian air support.

This development also meant Russian soldiers are operating as forward air controllers in the field alongside the YPG. YPG units, in alliance with Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), also seized Marea and are continuing their eastward advance. The YPG, which liberated Tell Abyad from Islamic State (IS) control in June with US air support, is now expanding its territory to Afrin’s east, this time with Russian air support, which naturally frustrates Ankara.