While Ankara continues to send its military reinforcements to Idlib, with long convoys of artillery, tanks and personnel carriers crossing the border daily, Syrian regime forces have managed to make important strategic progress that has eluded them over the past years.

On Feb. 16, regime forces seized major opposition strongholds located in a large area north and west of the city of Aleppo, which includes around 15 cities and towns — most notably, Hraytan, Anadan and Kafr Hamra. The regime also captured the last remaining opposition strongholds in the city of Aleppo, including al-Yarmoun, al-Rashideen 4th Sector and parts of Al-Zahra Association Quarter.

These changes in the military control map made the closest opposition point to the city of Aleppo 20 kilometers (12 miles) away. This pushed the regime's supporters to take to the streets Feb. 17 to celebrate “securing Aleppo.”

On the other hand, the opposition was dealt a heavy blow after losing its main strongholds north and west of the city of Aleppo. These areas had remained under its control since 2012, and it saw them as a cornerstone for its stay there.