Syrian government forces look at smoke billowing from Aleppo’s thermal power plant after they took control of the area on the eastern outskirts of Syria’s northern embattled city from ISIS group fighters on February 21, 2016.

The ISIS group and other militants on Monday cut a vital supply route linking the west of Syria’s second city Aleppo with other government-held territory, a monitoring group said.

The road between Aleppo and the town of Khanasser to the southeast was the only way regime forces and civilians living in government-controlled neighborhoods of the city could travel to surrounding provinces.

If government forces are unable to recapture the road, it could slow an offensive they launched in the countryside around Aleppo earlier this year.

And it could worsen severe shortages of food and water for civilians.

“Jihadists from the Caucasus and from (China’s mainly Muslim region of) Xinjiang, as well as the jihadist group Jund al-Aqsa, cut the route from the south after a surprise attack,” said Syrian Observatory for Human Rights chief Rami Abdel Rahman.

“And fighters from IS cut off a different part of the route from the northern side at the same time,” Abdel Rahman said.

Thousands of foreign fighters have flocked to Syria over the past two years, many of them taking up arms with Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front, ISIS or Jund al-Aqsa.

It is not the first time that the government’s supply route to Aleppo has been cut.

Rebel cut it in 2013 and ISIS did so last year before being pushed back.

The new setback comes with government troops on the offensive north and west of Aleppo, where rebel forces in the east of the city are almost completely surrounded.

Related articles across the web

• 300+ al-Nusra terrorists killed by Syrian forces
• Gray Wolves have developed close links with al-Qaeda
• Obama warns Russia of getting into quagmire in Syria
• Suicide & Car Blast Near Bibi Zainab's Shrine , Martyrs atleast 50 People , injures 110
• Seven arrested in Spain over extremism links
• #AceFrontlineNews - Number of people amassing on #Syrian-#Turkish border has soared as fighting in #Aleppo continues and airstrikes kill both #ISIS and Civilians - Monitor - @AceNewsServices
• Thousands brave freeze at Turkey border as Syria warns Riyadh, Ankara
• 300 Al Qaeda Moderate Rebels Butchered While Fleeing to Turkey - Veterans Today
• Growing Uighur Militancy: Challenges For China - Analysis
• Battle for Aleppo: Who's fighting on what side and why this siege could be a turning point in Syria