SUMMARY

This dyad consists of the Free Syria Operations Room, a coalition formed on 16 May 2014, and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (at the time called the al-Nusra Front), whom together fought IS in northern Aleppo, concentrated in the area around the area of Akhtarin town, in an offensive named "Northern Earthquake". The offensive failed to make significant gains against IS however, who soon thereafter gained the upper hand in northern Aleppo, and began pushing the factions westward during the "Nahrawan al-Sham” campaign.

The operation followed upon the anti-IS offensive in January 2014 (see IS - Islamic Front, Mujahideen Army, SRF), which at this time had been halted, or even defeated in some areas.