File talk:Battle of Aleppo map.svg

Ashrafieh

I've read info for fighting between SAA and FSA in Ashrafieh. According to map this is kurdish held area. Does anybody know about possesion change or fight between SAA and FSA in this area? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 46.40.118.68 (talk) 12:48, 10 February 2013 (UTC)

@46.... i've seen videos of fighting between FSA and SAA but also fighting SAA vs PYD --Amedjay (talk) 19:21, 12 February 2013 (UTC)

Ashrafieh is mostly controlled by the PYD, but it is a mixed neighborhood. The initial stance of the PYD was to arm and hold their neighborhood but avoid conflict with the SAA. It worked to both parties advantage. About 2-3 months ago, an increasing FSA presence formed there and there were a few clashes between the FSA and PYD. The dispute was resolved and the PYD released public statements supporting the revolution. The FSA has had access to the neighborhood for some time. They were more and more open about using the area and I've seen a number of videos of the FSA there, which is why the SAA bombed it. Once the SAA bombed it the PYD became actively engaged in the fight. They are now fighting alongside the FSA. For all practical purposes, the PYD is now an active combat force fighting in aleppo. They have a distinct and different command structure, but so do many fighting units there. We use the term FSA rather loosley here. the PYD could be considered to be FSA in the same way Al Nusra Front or any other independent revolutionary fighting force could be considered to be FSA. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.90.184.237 (talk) 20:57, 12 February 2013 (UTC)

Not sure if this is from Ashrafieh, but it illustrates the current status of the PYD in the war. At least the Aleppo PYD has put aside it's political differences and is directly working with the FSA. It will be some help, but from what I've seen, although the kurds have a long history of independent militias and armed resistance, they have shown very little evidence of being an effective military fighting force at this scale of battle. They are newly joined in the battle and it will be months before they are hardened enough to do much. I hope I'm wrong... Still, the unity of the PYD and FSA is a very positive sign for Syria. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eZwqtyZXXw GFS — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.104.169.68 (talk) 07:33, 14 February 2013 (UTC)

Yes, the YPG doesn't really attack SAA , they just protect their territory and as for Ashraffieh , I think it's safe to say it has majoritary kurdish presence in the north , FSA presence in the north-west and SAA presence in the south --Amedjay (talk) 18:18, 14 February 2013 (UTC)

Amedjay, I think the situation has grown more complicated. In some towns, the PYD appears to be holding a truce with the SAA, although there has been recent fighting in the NE of Syria. In others, they have been fighting the FSA although I have heard no recent reports of that happening. In Aleppo/Ashraffieh, they are clearly at the very least, holding an armed front of their territory and fighting the SAA incursions, directly with the FSA. I don't have any info showing the PYD on the offensive, but they appear to be at the very least holding the battle line to support the FSA in offensive manuevers. The PYD in Aleppo is no longer on the sidelines. The pressure will grow for them to support the FSA in a more and more active manner. I am just speculating, but I believe that things changed when the FSA tried to move through Ashraffieh to support their battle lines and hit the SAA back in October. There was some fighting between the FSA and PYD, resulting in the kidnapping of a PYD leader. After that the FSA released them and a series of PYD videos emerged supporting the FSA.. since then, the FSA has had a growing presence and the PYD has been increasingly active and agressive towards the SAA. As far as I know, the SAA has NO presence in Ashrafieh.. only limited incursions unless they are holding territory from very recent assults. There are also interesting recent reports of some FSA soldiers joining the Kurds because they see them as a more moderate stabalizing force less prone to looting and other war crimes. This is making the PYD in Ashrafieh a more diverse force, but also a less well armed and less agressive force. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.104.169.68 (talk) 08:07, 18 February 2013 (UTC)

Given the lack of follow up by the FSA on the attack of the base in Tishreen, and numerous videos showing joint FSA/PYD defense of Ashraffieh, I believe the SAA does infact hold some ground in there. I can't tell where the front line is. It would be misleading to show the whole district as disputed since the FSA appears to control the vast majority of it. Anyone have clarification? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.104.169.68 (talk) 06:05, 13 March 2013 (UTC)

Old city gates

According to Le Figaro article few days ago rebels overran Bab Hadith, Bab al-Nasr (Aleppo) and Bab al-Faraj (Aleppo) gates which are entrances to old city of Aleppo. Hadith and Nasr are in contested area on map but Faraj are in regime-controlled - the square above Umayyad mosque - [1]. Cheers EllsworthSK (talk) 02:14, 17 February 2013 (UTC)

Maybe we should consider putting the whole old city as unclear. Fighting rages there since October 2012... --Amedjay (talk) 18:45, 17 February 2013 (UTC)

I think we should put al-asrafiyah neighborhood as contested because there is fighting in the neighborhood . Abdo45 (talk) 19:11, 18 February 2013 (UTC)

Unless someone has information on Ashrafiyeh, I'd suggest it remain as Kurd or FSA/Kurd. The only reports I've seen are of limited short term incursions followed by quick withdrawls by the SAA. I've seen no evidence of them holding any territory. If I'm wrong, someone please post some links. I'd also like to hear what's going on in Tishreen. I've heard nothing since the videos about 10 days ago showing a major FSA assult on the base there.

76 here's a video of rebels in a tank supposed to be situated near or in the almohalab military coumpound however I couldn't verify the source however http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2CA0gX3YAo --78.232.100.63 (talk) 15:04, 20 February 2013 (UTC)

With respect to the Old City, it has been disputed at the very least for months. From videos and mainstream news sources, it is quite clearly mostly FSA controlled. The SAA only holds the citadel, and the mosque. From time to time they appear to retake enough ground near Bahraat to reach the mosque, but I'm not sure if they have been able to reach the citadel for months. For all practical purposes, the FSA controls the territory around both, but the front lines are fluid enough that I'd show it as disputed. GFS — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.104.169.68 (talk) 06:53, 20 February 2013 (UTC)

This has nothing to do with city gates to old city that I´ve sourced. EllsworthSK (talk) 02:17, 22 February 2013 (UTC)

The link you posted is from july! Tradedia (talk) 03:03, 24 February 2013 (UTC)

Damn. EllsworthSK (talk) 23:06, 24 February 2013 (UTC)

New York Times post along with 3 videos. FSA appears to have taken the Umayyad Mosque. http://projects.nytimes.com/watching-syrias-war/rebel-fighters-seize-great-mosque-of-aleppo GFS — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.90.184.237 (talk) 21:14, 26 February 2013 (UTC) Footage of FSA in the courtyard. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHuCTusVZHY&feature=youtu.be — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.90.184.237 (talk) 21:34, 26 February 2013 (UTC) FSA took control of Ummayad mosque and market near of mosque the color of this should changed in green.Why dont change in green ummayad mosque because it is in hands of fsa.

Khan Al Asal

On the western front heavy fighting is reported in the Khan Al Asal district but I suppose you are aware of that. Rebels are trying to storm the besieged police academy, they took control of a checkpoint already. --78.232.100.63 (talk) 17:43, 24 February 2013 (UTC)

Is that district within the scope of the map? --FutureTrillionaire (talk) 21:15, 24 February 2013 (UTC)

No. It is not even part of Aleppo city but its suburb. Something like Darayya and Damascus. EllsworthSK (talk) 23:07, 24 February 2013 (UTC)

Khan Al Asal is about 1km off the Aleppo map, or 4km from Al Assad Military Academy. The FSA controls most of the area up to about the Al Assad Woods. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.90.184.237 (talk) 21:13, 25 February 2013 (UTC)

I'm not an experienced Wikipedian, so please be gentle. Wouldn't this very helpful map be much more helpful and informative if it covered a somewhat wider area to include suburbs like Khan Al Asal? I find this map very interesting and appreciate all the hard work involved in keeping it accurate and up-to-date, but every time I look at it I am left wondering what access/supply lines the area of Western Aleppo held by the Assad regime has to other regime-held territory. A map that covered, say, twice as much territory shouldn't be twice as hard to maintain because the outlying areas are less populated and would give valuable hints as to which highways leading to the city are under control of which side. I can't find that information on any of the maps for this page or the main Syrian Civil War page. Yes, a larger geographic scope would mean a smaller scale and/or more panning around to see the whole map, but wouldn't it be worth it?DCP123 (talk) 00:07, 26 February 2013 (UTC)

Yeah that would be interesting , that would show the western outskirts mostly under rebel control til the Al Assad forest. --78.232.100.63 (talk) 16:36, 26 February 2013 (UTC)

Breaking : a video of the rebels in the great Ummayad Mosque couldn't verify the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2s6vAegccw also here's a video of the rebels in the justice palace http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZNVlWjDQtU http://wikimapia.org/#lat=36.1970933&lon=37.1643367&z=19&l=2&m=b the old city is fronts are about to collapse. --Amedjay (talk) 16:53, 26 February 2013 (UTC) 217.77.221.59 (talk) 21:29, 26 February 2013 (UTC)The rebels seized the centuries-old Umayyad Mosque, which for months has been used as a military encampment and checkpoint by regime forces, after a day of fighting, Aleppo activists said (according to news http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-syria-troops-rebels-battle-aleppo-20130226,0,3151201.story).217.77.221.59 (talk) 21:29, 26 February 2013 (UTC)

Khan al Asal is falling rapidly at this point. No need to expand the map since it's basically the only point to the edge of the map not currently fully controlled by the FSA. Several videos today show the FSA in the police school compound. The latest videos indicate they have not taken complete control of the entire base yet. The police school has been underseige for 1-2 months. The FSA had long since surrounded it on the north, west, and south. Recent chatter and videos that I can't confirm appear to show the FSA in almost complete control of Khan al Asal at this point. Today there have been reports of heavy fighting in Hamdaniya around the Al Asaad Military Academy. I can't confirm these reports yet since it usually takes 1-3 days for footage and reliable news to leak out. Strategically, this would make a lot of sense and I've seen indications for about 2 months the FSA was preparing to push through Hamdaniya (they have also been moving into New Aleppo). If they take the Asaad Military Academy, and crack through Salahadine, Aleppo would fall in a matter of days. The largest existing base in the area is the Artillery base in the SW. It is not currently in jeopardy, but has been taking artillery from the west and SW, and the main gates are sealed off by the FSA in Ramouseh. Cutting the rest of Aleppo off from this would be fatal. GFS — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.104.169.68 (talk) 07:05, 27 February 2013 (UTC)

You may be a bit off. The Police Academy was surrounded from north, south and east as the FSA have taken the Khan Al Asal residential area (between Hamdaniya and Cordoba Hills) earlier. On the west the Police Academy backs up onto the Military Administrative Affairs Academy in Cordoba Hills, which has not yet fallen. I see much confusion in the talk comes from mixing up the Al Assad Academy (Hamdaniya) with the Administrative Affairs Academy (Cordoba Hills). In strategic terms, both academies pale in comparison to the artillery base. The FSA has actually advanced closer to the city limits to the south of the highway by taking Khan Touman a few months ago. Also, it's a question how far has the FSA advanced into Ramousse, as they apparently hold the fuel depot, but there's no reports of them attacking the garages. The fighting in Khan Al Asal is basically a mop-up of a pocket that has already been cut off from Aleppo proper.--41.76.208.114 (talk) 10:00, 27 February 2013 (UTC)

41.76, I was not aware the Admin Affairs was still holding out. Still, my comment on Hamdaniya and the Al Assad academy was specif. There have been reports of FSA infiltration into the area for about 2 months, and reports of heavy fighting yesterday including attacks on the Al Assad Academy itself. GFS — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.90.184.237 (talk) 20:00, 27 February 2013 (UTC)

41.76 I want to bring the following to your attention: https://yallasouriya.wordpress.com/2012/12/14/fsa-controls-the-administration-college-in-aleppo-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4-2/ Where do you get your information about the situation between Khan Al Asal and the Assad's woods from? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 217.18.178.94 (talk) 16:48, 1 March 2013 (UTC)

Not from Wordpress. I had heard about fighting during that time, but was expecting the SAA to fight for Cordoba Hills a lot harder. I did hear the FSA took the residential area of Khan Al Asal in Jan along with the ammo dump and I'm now actually surprised that the Police Academy held out all this time! --197.104.237.65 (talk) 17:17, 1 March 2013 (UTC)

My info on Hamdaniyeh / Khan Al Asal is mostly from various twitter & blog posts.. However this video from today backs up my assertion. I can't pinpoint the exact buildings in the forground of the fire, but I think it's the NE corner of Al Nasr filmed from the fuel depot in Romouseh, which puts this giant raging fire the size of a small city right smack in the middle of western Hamdaniyeh, or possibly it's the entire Assad woods on fire just beyond. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ByVBbeE8gWI - GFS — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.90.184.237 (talk) 00:07, 2 March 2013 (UTC) Follow up. I was able to identify 2 landmarks on today's explosion as well as find a video from another angle. I can't pinpoint the exact location, but if you draw a line from the NE corner of the fuel Ramouseh fuel depot to the very SW tip of the Assad Military Academy, you will see the mosque dome with the slightly odd minerate design. The blast is about 2 degrees counter clockwise. The 2nd video shows it in a populated area. This puts the blast probably smack in the middle of the triangular tip of Hamadaniyeh.. probably within a few hundred yards of Al Amal school.. It was a gov't air strike since they would not fire an inaccurate SCUD 1/2 a mile from the Al Assad Military academy. Unless they have taken to bombing their own territory, the FSA is, or at least was in the western triangle of Hamadaniyeh. Further confirmed by numerous accounts that the airstrike killed many FSA. I'd hold off changing the color until we see additional video showing the FSA are still in the area after that massive blast. GFS — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.104.169.68 (talk) 04:55, 2 March 2013 (UTC)

The fire is most likely from the petrol station along the highway, just west of Al-Assad wood. You can see it on Wikimapia.--197.170.158.189 (talk) 05:07, 2 March 2013 (UTC)

Not the petrol station. I just confirmed the 2nd camera angle is taken from the southern edge of the Assad woods where it abuts the residential district. You can see the minaret of the mosque to the west of the Al Aman school and the Assad military academy in the background. This puts the blast right about in the roundabout 200m north of Al Amal school. This also corresponds to twitter chatter by the FSA for the last 2 days that they are in that area. GFS. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.104.169.68 (talk) 05:11, 2 March 2013 (UTC)

Khan Tourman

SE of Aleppo City; outside the map but may have significance for situation in Aleppo City: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVWGNkk0R8E&feature=youtu.be and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih5Ipnrm-YQ seem to be at the NE-Gate of the Depot here: http://wikimapia.org/#lat=36.1257573&lon=37.0923018&z=16&l=5&m=w; Could anyone check? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 217.18.178.94 (talk) 17:20, 15 March 2013 (UTC)

Front lime

Map provided from USA. We know their anti Assad position so this map can not be called pro-SAA. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ballistic-missiles-strike-aleppo/2013/02/26/35719c50-808a-11e2-a350-49866afab584_graphic.html — Preceding unsigned comment added by 46.40.118.68 (talk) 19:27, 27 February 2013 (UTC) Here's a map of the fighting in Aleppo provided to Human Rights Watch http://twitpic.com/c7bkx8 This Washington Post map is VERY inaccurate. If you were a resident of Aleppo trying to use that map to figure out how to safely move about, you'd end up dead. There are so many flaws, I can't even begin to list them. The Wikipedia map is far more accurate. GFS — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.90.184.237 (talk) 19:57, 27 February 2013 (UTC)

Labels are missing but big streets can be recognized. You say 'inacurate' because frontline is different from map here. You can be sure in one thing: USA and especially CIA have perferct satellite maps. And because they give to FSA comunication equipment - they can easy detect FSA positions. So map is accurate. It wouldn't be acurate if SAA provides it. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 46.40.118.68 (talk) 20:33, 27 February 2013 (UTC)

Don't know about the washingtonpost map. Should be accuate, but the frontline is not. Frontline seems to be some two months old (before rebel advances around Aleppo airport). CIA might have some perfect frontline estimates, but washingtonpost is not CIA and the article map purpose is to show bombing sites, not the accurate frontline. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.55.17.37 (talk) 21:13, 27 February 2013 (UTC)

user 46.40, there is a big problem with your logic. The CIA probably has perfect maps... but the "USA" is a vague term the way you seem to use it and it does not = the CIA. Newspaper journalists, average citizens or even 99.99% of military and government employees do NOT have perfect maps or access to CIA data. The CIA probably does have pretty good info on the FSA front lines but they would NEVER publically release such a map. This map was prepared by a reporter or more likley, a college intern at a newspaper, who probably gave it all of 5 minutes worth of reasearch and grabbed the most recent publically available map they could find on google... Which appears to be at least 2-3 months old. Unlike some countries, there is no link or relationship between the media/press and government intelligance agencies like the CIA. It would be illegal, immoral, and the concept would not even occur to anyone. Not that the CIA doesn't monkey around where they shouldn't from time to time.. but they don't use private US media as a propeganda machine... politicians might... but the CIA and intelligence agencies don't (with the exception of a few isolated specific operations mostly in WWII) GFS — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.90.184.237 (talk) 23:22, 27 February 2013 (UTC)

The police Academy has fallen. There is some debate online about this, but a video just came out showing the FSA walking the entirety of the compound with identifiable landmarks. No idea yet if the SAA surrendered, was killed, or managed to flee. Either way, this frees up hundreds of troops to move on towards Aleppo. I'm not aware of any other SAA holdouts in the area, which also means the FSA not only frees up troops, but can deploy more efficiently in the area. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPUOv19tkQ8 - GFS — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.104.169.68 (talk) 10:19, 3 March 2013 (UTC)

Is this the Police Academy or Police School? It seems to me you are talking about the position between Khan Al-Asal and Cordoba Hills, but that is actually the School, not Academy. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 197.170.228.98 (talk) 12:57, 3 March 2013 (UTC)

changes

I'm going to make some changes based on the following:
1) Shqayyef district in the north is in govt hands after months of being colored "contested" even though there are two large SAA bases there neither of which has been touched by the FSA, thus its clear the district is in govt hands
2) Fix the position of al-Aziza neighborhood
3) There are now dozens of vids that show the FSA in control of Umayyad mosque, and the weapons they captured from the area. But I'll keep that place olive. However, the citadel is now going to be colored olive because the FSA now surrounds the building, plus there is exchange of fire on the citadel. See [[2]] which shows the main checkpoint to the citadel has been abandoned and shows how the opposition is literally next to the citadel.
4) Remove "Zuhoor" area which is labeled as part of Ashrafiyeh district, and replace it with the much larger "Tareq ibn-Ziyad" district
5) Remove the red lines found around the center of the image which are actually supposed to be black b/c they're streets
Hope you guys like it. Moester101 (talk) 03:16, 28 February 2013 (UTC)

Citadel should remain red, although it is completely surrounded the rebels have not entered it. And Al-Aziza is not even on this map, that label should be removed.--41.55.156.107 (talk) 04:56, 28 February 2013 (UTC)

Agree with all or most of the edits, but have 2 comments/questions. 1. Can you make the citadel a red dot, to help indicate it's still SAA? 2. Do you have more specific info on Shqayyef district? It seems clear that the SAA still has some permanent presence there, but I'm not sure the district itself is under their control. I thought at least 1 of the 2 bases was sacked about 2-3 months ago. You may well be right, but I'd like to understand better since I have only vague info that would indicate it's more disputed with the exception of perhaps a single base. GFS — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.104.169.68 (talk) 06:38, 28 February 2013 (UTC)

Shaqqayf still has fighting. Al Ansari and Tal al zarazir can be made light green, no fighting there in months. Sopher99 (talk) 14:46, 28 February 2013 (UTC)

Khaldiya should also be marked contested. There have been reports of fighting on Nile street for weeks, including around the fire house. If Nile street is the front line, the whole area north of it could be considered rebel territory, though contested is a good enough marker for now.--197.175.242.76 (talk) 09:03, 2 March 2013 (UTC)

Seems to be reports that the Umayyad Mosque is green, even if the area around it is not. At the very least, the Old City area directly south should probably be 'green', and there should be an arrow pushing in that direction. http://blogs.aljazeera.com/topic/syria/syrian-rebels-reportedly-seize-control-umayyad-mosque-aleppo Lev Lafayette (talk) 03:01, 1 March 2013 (UTC)

According Spanish press the Umayyad Mosque is under rebel control. The rebels also would attack a "Police Academy" in the west of Aleppo.--Emiliokun5 (talk) 14:07, 1 March 2013 (UTC)[3][4]

Mohammad al-Khatib of the Aleppo Media Center activist group said the Great Mosque was indeed in rebel hands, although clashes were still raging in the area. Observatory director Rami Abdul-Rahman said rebels have been in control of at least half of the mosque for days, but he could not confirm that they now had captured the entire grounds.http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2013/Mar-02/208537-syria-risks-dissolution-un-chief-warns.ashx#axzz2MKeEKzwd — Preceding unsigned comment added by 46.201.27.92 (talk) 06:51, 2 March 2013 (UTC)

Who keeps turning Shqayyef Red? It may or may not be. All I hear are scattered infrequent reports of fighting (mostly ambushes) in that area. I know the SAA still has a base on the northern section, but do they really control the district? If someone has any info, please post. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.104.169.68 (talk) 06:00, 13 March 2013 (UTC)

@76.104. I've seen many videos about Ashraffyieh lately effectively showing rebels in the districts but also warplanes and helicopter shelling. I deduct there are effectively Army Soldiers in the district but the southern part and the area next to the Almohallab Base which is still under siege. --Amedjay (talk) 17:59, 15 March 2013 (UTC)

al-Maady and al-Marjeh neighborhoods

Artillery bombardments carried out by Syrian Army take place over many positions of al-Maady and al-Marjeh neighborhoods of Aleppo countryside. - See more at: http://www.documents.sy/news.php?id=6018&lang=en#sthash.0g64rXhL.dpuf — Preceding unsigned comment added by 46.201.27.57 (talk) 11:44, 1 March 2013 (UTC)

Not really relevant to the talk on the map. Modern artillery has an effective range of 20 km, that shelling could have come from anywhere.--197.104.237.65 (talk) 17:22, 1 March 2013 (UTC)

Airport

al jazeera and huffpost reported today that the army retook the highway leading to aleppo airport. AJE reported that SOHR corroborated, so, can we get a red arrow pointing towards (or from) the airport, going northwest? It would seem appropriate to me. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/03/201332145439859542.html

146.151.101.18 (talk) 22:19, 2 March 2013 (UTC)Mango

Well done for this comment !. Aljazeera (for rebels) reported the same information as the AAS Headquater. So, it is a quite sure information. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.220.41.156 (talk) 22:52, 2 March 2013 (UTC)

I agree that the map should be changed to reflect the army retaking the highway leading to aleppo airport... Tradedia (talk) 03:51, 3 March 2013 (UTC)

Is this highway even on the map? If so, which road is it? --FutureTrillionaire (talk) 03:53, 3 March 2013 (UTC)

This is likely related to the news of the army retaking Tel Sheghib on the 1st of March. There is a road that goes from this town to the aircraft shelters that seems to be just off the map.--197.169.193.179 (talk) 06:49, 3 March 2013 (UTC)

I think you are correct mr 197. http://www.petercliffordonline.com/syria-news-2/ says: "just south-east of Aleppo, Government forces managed to retake control of the town of Tel Shghaib, enabling them to reopen the road from Hama province to Aleppo International Airport for the re-supply of materials, men and weapons at the bases surrounding it." Tradedia (talk) 08:07, 3 March 2013 (UTC)

I'd wait to change the map. it took the SAA a week to get a convoy 20 miles. The fact that they punched through does not mean they actually hold the ground they drove through. The area should be shown as disputed until there is some clear indication they actually have an armed presence protecting the road and the ability to run convoys through it without significant resistance. If you changed the color of the map every time a bullet was fired or an supply convoy got through, the whole map and whole country would be olive... GFS — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.104.169.68 (talk) 09:47, 3 March 2013 (UTC)

They only seized a strategic village , I'm not sure they went through the aiport breaking the siege. --78.232.100.63 (talk) 14:10, 3 March 2013 (UTC)

You have proof from both sides and you still have a doubt ? (any news coming from rebels soon ?). You don't have too much precautions when you put circles on green !. I'm not sure that you know this road : it'is crossed by several villages. If army (any army !) said that this road is safe, it means that villages are safe too !. It means that all the road is safe !. You can ask AlJazeera if you want no ?. Thanks a lot for the sentence : "If you changed the color of the map every time a bullet was fired or an supply convoy got through, the whole map and whole country would be olive". Implicitly (even for "a bullet"), you confirmed what Pro-Bachar said from the beginning : Fights are everywhere in Syrian territory !. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.220.39.202 (talk) 19:25, 3 March 2013 (UTC)

And we're still stuck with the fact that this road, is not on this map. So drop it.--197.174.162.102 (talk) 21:02, 3 March 2013 (UTC)

Listen up guys, the SAA recaptured Tel Shegheb, which is a town southeast of Aleppo airport which leads to said airport which is waaaay off map to the south (see [5]) As you can see, the map shows that there is no "highway" between the town and the airport, and actually the closest road from the town to the airport is exactly 5 miles (calculated using wikimapia's distance measure feature) which is kinda a lot considering that these last 5 miles are full of FSA presence. Overall, the SAA capture of Tel Shegheb does NOT mean that the SAA is even close to airport. Until the reinforcements arrive to the airport or clash with the FSA besieging the airport THEN we can change the map, but for now it will stay. Moester101 (talk) 01:05, 5 March 2013 (UTC)

One more piece of info I think you should see is [6]. It shows FSA blowing-up the main bridge that connects Tel Shegheb with the airport. Case closed, for now at least. Moester101 (talk) 05:12, 5 March 2013 (UTC)

Are you jocking with your video ?. Where is the rivier ?. Do you think that tanks can't go in the other side ?. I know very well this road and this bridge is here because ther is another road below !!. Realy ridiculous !.

No Highway to go from Aleppo city to the Aleppo Airport ?. Do you think that Syria is like Bengladesh ?. See carefully Aleppo governorat MAPS and please think a little more !. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.220.39.2 (talk) 20:07, 17 March 2013 (UTC)

Police Academy taken

Several videos on youtube show this, BBC confirms. [7] Do not confuse though with Military Engineering Academy which is far larger and further up. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Joinisf (talk • contribs) 14:41, 3 March 2013 (UTC)

The police academy you mentioned is waaay of map to the west, so it won't make the map change Moester101 (talk) 00:56, 5 March 2013 (UTC)

Can we put the police academy on the map? I can't see it, given the number of people who have died fighting for control I think it an important piece of real estate. (Cjblair (talk) 03:31, 5 March 2013 (UTC))

All the reporting I've read clearly indicates that the captured police academy in question is that in Khan al-Asal: http://wikimapia.org/#lat=36.1549167&lon=37.0109712&z=16&l=0&m=b . It's located about 10 km. from the center of Aleppo and accordingly can't be shown on a map of this scope.
A map with a broader view of Aleppo's environs out to one or two dozen kilometers or so would be quite helpful for understanding the battle given that outside the main built-up area of the city there's a lot of operational-level maneuvering for control of supply routes and air and other military bases.
A scale intermediate between this map and the nation-wide http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Syrian_Civil_War.svg is needed, but its creation won't be a trivial undertaking and I'm not really up to the task at the moment. Riyuky (talk) 05:57, 5 March 2013 (UTC)

There are two locations that can be termed "Police Academy". One is south of Khan Al-Asal, the other to the west of it. Which one are we talking about here?

The one in Khan al Asal case closed. --Amedjay (talk) 19:32, 5 March 2013 (UTC)

Guardian (March 10) Map of Aleppo Frontlines/Held Territory

Last week the Guardian published an article about the bodies found in the "River of Martyrs" that included a map of the Aleppo territories held by the SAA and FSA, respectively. It also includes a third category of contested areas.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2013/mar/11/syria-bodies-river-aleppo-massacre

Their map largely mirrors the excellant Wikipedia map, originally created months ago by map maker extraordinaire, Futuretrillionaire, and updated by several others. (In fact I suspect that the Guardian used the Wikipedia map as one of its references.) The biggest difference is that the Guardian map shows a contiguous strip of territory held by the SAA to the citadel, also held by the SAA. I think that makes more sense than showing the citadel and all the areas around it as contested. In all of the media reports I have read, I don't think I have read anything about the SAA held citadel being under attack, or even under seige, with the SAA troops cut off from their supply line.

I think this change (the Citadel, and supply line being red) can be made to the Wikipedia map, and the think that the Guardian article/map may be sufficient in itself as a reference for this. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Hulahoop122 (talk • contribs) 03:36, 15 March 2013 (UTC)

Looks like the guardian stole our map, not the other way around. If you color the grey dark green you will find that it is EXACTLY our map that we built from "scratch". That extra red patch is just their attempt to explain why the Aleppo citadel can be surrounded but soldiers still having supplies. The Aleppo citadel has underground passages, plus the FSA is not watching everything single corner. Sopher99 (talk) 22:05, 15 March 2013 (UTC)

The Ard as-Sabbagh and ansari districts haven't had fighting in forever. Change it to light green. Sopher99 (talk)

Everywhere south of Hamadaniya but west of the artillery base should be colored contested, as rebels have seized Khan al Touman. http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-syria-war-assad-third-year-20130315,0,1650959.story Sopher99 (talk) 22:18, 15 March 2013 (UTC)

Khan Tuman is pretty far off the map. Not sure if rebel presence there makes a difference here.--FutureTrillionaire (talk) 03:14, 16 March 2013 (UTC)

Al rasideen district became contested and I turned it to olive brown Abdo45 (talk) 12:54, 16 March 2013 (UTC)

New changes

I'm gonna make some changes to map.
1) reverse last change by alhanuty as the link source he provided doesnt exist. Also, it doesnt make sense to make all that area contested if the FSA still hasn't been able to capture Khan al-asal (which is more to the west than the area alhanuty tried to make contested).
2) I agree with Sopher99's comment above, there hasn't been clashes in Ard as-sabbagh in a long time since it was captured by FSA, so changing that.
3) [video], the first professional news video from salaheddine in a while, shows that FSA are strictly in control of east salahedine district up until the stadium at around 6:00 of the video. so changing east salaheddine. Moester101 (talk) 20:03, 16 March 2013 (UTC)

You have to take in mind fall of Khan Tuman and its military warehouses [8]. As for Rashidin - Abu Raed, who did not give his real name for fear of persecution by the regime, also said rebels seized a missile base in al-Rashideen area in Aleppo province. Another activist group, The Observatory for Human Rights, said fighting for the missile base was ongoing. In activist videos posted online Friday, rebels are seen walking around a warehouse, opening wooden boxes that contain missiles. The videos appeared consistent with reporting from the area by The Associated Press. [9]. EllsworthSK (talk) 00:42, 17 March 2013 (UTC)

1) Khan Touman and its adjacent missile factory which were captured by FSA today are waaaaay off map and do not affect the map (kinda like the police academy from 2 weeks ago). See [10] to see how khan touman and its weapons factory are so off map. 2) as for the 'missile base' in Rashidin district, that is a false flag, since Rashidin does not have a missile base. The report about that was referring to the same depot in khan touman, which IS a missile depot. Hope that clears up things. I don't think the map needs any more updates for now. Moester101 (talk) 01:49, 17 March 2013 (UTC)

Khan Tuman is certainly irrelevant as far as this map is concerned. Nevertheless, Wikimapia seems to indicate a rocket base in Rashidin: [11]. ~~ Lothar von Richthofen (talk) 02:42, 17 March 2013 (UTC)

I am aware of that, but you were wondering about how could rebels reached Rashidin without taking full control of Khan al-Asal and Touman is one such way. Also as Lothar pointed, there is a missile base in Rashidin which even falls within the perimiter of map. EllsworthSK (talk) 19:24, 17 March 2013 (UTC)

Does anyone have an English transliteration for the district south of the highway and west of Al-Nasr district? I'm only seeing the name of it in Arabic, and since it borders the Police Academy, it's probably important. And Lothar, I have to express doubts about that "base" in Rashidin. I zoomed to the max, and I'm not seeing any structures that resemble rocket launchers. It looks like a production facility to me.--197.172.247.52 (talk) 05:26, 17 March 2013 (UTC)

I have translated what u were asking for on wikimapia, and its not really significant. and I agree about the "missile base" in Rashidin, its polygon on wikimapia was created just 2 days ago, and it has no military vehicles whatsoever. Also, it is not walled, even though all other govt bases are walled. One more thing, inside this "missile base" is a "kitchen and modern furnishings" facility. Anyone seeing what I'm seeing here? It's a false polygon. Imma delete it on wikimapia. Moester101 (talk) 06:04, 17 March 2013 (UTC)

RASHIDIN OR NOT RASHIDIN

What's happended in Rashidin ? : An AAS unit destroyed a mortar, a car equipped with a heavy machinegun and a vehicle near al-Hikmeh School in al-Rashidin. And that's enough to put all this area contested ?. A man (Pro-rebel) and another (how many are they in a dictatorial state like syria ?)Human right organisation said something and thats enough !. First sentence is the truth and nothing else. Naively, you think that each Neighborhood of a huge city is hermetic ?. Who wrote that "a bullet" is not enough to put an area contested ?.