Beirut- Developments rolling in northern Syria include an exceptional race between the United States and Russia as to which superpower will provide air cover for the operation on liberating ISIS-held al-Bab town, located 40km northeast of Aleppo.

The Russian air force has provided aerial support for Syrian regime forces to advance to the town’s outskirts—while Turkish warplanes operating under the U.S.-led coalition have staged multiple air strikes over border vicinity, backing Turkish units partaking in the Operation Euphrates Shield and advancing towards al-Bab, reported the German news agency.

International efforts could not hold a candle to ISIS’ knack in establishing wins across Syrian regime soft spots. The terror group attacked four different regime military air bases, managing a substantial advance against one air base.

In a new photo report purportedly released by the terror group ISIS, militants are shown conducting an attack against Al-Seen military airport near Damascus, Syria.

Footage was released by ISIS-run channels on February 3. An accompanying summary of the report reads: “Fighting in the abandoned battalion and points surrounding southeast Al-Seen military airport.”

The terror group is fixed on dominating swathes of barricaded lands, which is why its militants have targeted regime military bases, said a Syrian opposition source on ISIS developments and strategy. Not to mention the abundant arms made available at the fully militarized bastion, the source added.

ISIS, in light of the great losses it has recently suffered, seeks to enhance the morale of combatants and their trust in the organizations ability to accomplish military gains.

In the meantime, scheduled February talks in Geneva exclude military factions involved with “Tahrir al-Sham” from the representing Syrian opposition delegation, a source attending a Turkey-held meeting in Ankara told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The Ankara meetings were attended by Turkish foreign ministry representatives and Syrian opposition representatives.