In a recent announcement by Al-Nusra’s leader Jolani, he said that the group would not break its allegiance to Al-Qaeda, the terrorist group responsible for the death of over 3000 American lives on the attack of New York’s twin towers on September 11, 2011.
He had also said that they wanted to introduce Shariah Law as did the people of the Northern Aleppo province.
Most astonishingly, he confirmed the sentiment that has been said by realist commentators and journalist; that the supposed moderate and secular Free Syrian Army no longer exist. This has been known by careful followers of the Syrian War but largely ignored by Western leaders and media who try to convince the world that a moderate opposition force exists in Syria.
Collaboration between Al-Nusra and the Free Syrian Army has been underway for quite some years now with many FSA battalions switching allegiance to Al-Nusra and other terrorist groups like ISIL.
FSA battalions also make up part of the Army of Conquest (Jeish al-Fateh).
With this structured advance taking place inside the provincial capital of the Dara’a province, the Syrian Army’s 5th Armored Division and the National Defense Forces of Dara’a City are currently en route to the Dara’a-Jordan border-crossing that has been under the control of opposition since 2013.
Surprisingly underreported by both sides, the Syrian Army’s 5th Division is now within a few hundred meters of the Jordanian border-crossing in Southwest Dara’a. If captured, the Syrian Armed Forces will have effectively cutoff the Takfiri terrorists’ main supply route from the Jordanian cities of ‘Irbid and Mafraq.
Earlier this week, militants from the Free Syrian Army attempted to capture the key town of Judaydah in Northwestern Dara’a. However, this attempt to alleviate the pressure on Dara’a City failed, as the attack was repelled after the Southern Front Brigades sustained heavy casualties and the destruction of their heavy weaponry.
It is only a matter of time before the Syrian Armed Forces capture the Dara’a-Jordan border-crossing; furthermore, this raises the question about their future presence inside the provincial capital’s southern sector.
The ISIL gatherings in the Southern and in the Western countryside of Palmyra in Hayal mountain came under heavy bombardments by the Syrian warplanes.
The ISIL sustained a heavy death toll in the air raids.
The Syrian air forces also continued bombing of the ISIL defense lines around Maheen and Quaryatayn regions, inflicting heavy losses on the militant group.
On Saturday, the Syrian army engaged in clashes with ISIL terrorists who infiltrated into areas around Palmyra, killing and wounding scores of them.
The Syrian army clashed with ISIL terrorists who infiltrated from al-Zakara valley towards al-Maqaleh and from al-Tbeij and al-Rawaq Mountains to Fteir al-Qteir and al-Teefour- al-Baiyarat road in Palmyra countryside.
At least 22 militants were killed and injured in the clashes. Militants’ vehicles and weapons were also destroyed.
The ISIL strongholds near the ancient city of Palmyra, Quaryatayn town and Hazm al-Sharqhi in Tadmur desert were bombed over 50 times by the Syrian and Russian strikers.
The airstrikes inflicted a heavy death toll on the ISIL, and destroyed their military grid in large scale.
The Russian and Syrian army conducted the same number of bombing raids on ISIL positions near Palmyra on Sunday.
“More than 50 air raids have been conducted on Palmyra since this morning,” the Syrian army announced in a statement on Sunday afternoon.
Sources said also on Sunday that a unit of more than 60 Russian Marines arrived in the Homs province’s Eastern part in order to advise and overlook the Syrian Army’s counter-offensive against the ISIL terrorists in Western side of the ancient city of Palmyra.
The pro-government forces, including the army, the National Defense Forces (NDF), the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Syrian and Russian Air Forces, have been coordinating in recent weeks for a large-scale operation to end the ISIL control over Palmyra.
On Saturday, the Syrian army clashed with ISIL terrorists who infiltrated from al-Zakara valley towards al-Maqaleh and from al-Tbeij and al-Rawaq Mountains to Fteir al-Qteir and al-Teefour- al-Baiyarat road in Palmyra countryside.
At least 22 militants were killed and injured in the clashes.
Militants’ vehicles and weapons were also destroyed.
On Tuesday, pro-government forces, including the Russian and Syrian Air Forces, hit more ISIL targets near the ancient city of Palmyra (Tadmur), informed sources said, adding that the Syrian army has sped up plans to end militancy in the Central province as fast as possible.
The sources said that the Syrian warplanes carried out at least eight combat sorties over ISIL strongholds near Palmyra in heavy air raids.
“The ISIL terrorist suffered a heavy death toll in the air attacks and their military hardware also sustained large damage,” the sources further added.
“The Syrian army is resolved to push back the ISIL from Homs province, specially from Palmyra which is a treasure of historic monuments,” the sources said.
The Syrian warplanes pounded ISIL positions in Khenefis, Ein al-Jamajemeh and Aisha in Aleppo. The Russian jets also launched airstrikes on militants’ positions in Khan Touman town in Aleppo.
There were no immediate reports of possible casualties among ISIL ranks.
Meanwhile, fighters from the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) engaged in clashes with ISIL terrorists in Sarrin town in the Northeastern countryside of Aleppo. Militants from both sides were killed and injured.
Earlier, the Syrian Army alongside the Lebanese Hezbollah fighters pushed back the militant groups form more lands in the Southwestern part of Aleppo, ending in the recapturing of Banes town on Sunday.
The army said that after hours of fierce clashes with the militant groups, the Syrian government forces took full control over Banes a town in the Sothern part of al-Eis.
“The militants suffered a heavy death toll in the clashes and retreated from the battlefront after leaving behind their military vehicles and equipment,” the army added.
Terrorists’ command posts were destroyed with all weapons and ammunition inside them in the Syrian army’s operations in the neighborhoods of al-Sheikh Lutfi, al-Ramouseh, Salah Eddin, al-Rashideen, al-Fardous and al-Salehin in the city of Aleppo.
The Syrian army also killed all the 18 terrorists who were inside the command posts. The terrorists’ mortar launchers were also destroyed in the army’s attack on their positions.
On Saturday, senior terrorist commanders were killed in Syrian army’s attacks in Aleppo province as the government forces continued to inflict heavy losses on the foreign-backed Takfiri militants.
Ma’an Zeqzaq, the field commander of Faylaq al-Sham, was killed in clashes with the Syrian army in the Southern countryside of Aleppo.
The Syrian troops also killed Abu Aqeel, a senior commander of al-Nusra Front, in Aleppo countryside on Saturday. Abu Aqeel was identified as an Egyptian terrorist.
Reports said on Saturday that the terrorists of Al-Sham Movement, Al-Nusra Front (Syrian Al-Qaeda group), Liwaa Suqour Al-Sham, and Nouriddeen Al-Zinki Movement are getting more and more desperate in the Southern parts of Aleppo province, as they have launched multiple failed attacks on the Syrian Army’s defense positions over the last 48 hours.
On Friday morning, terrorists conducted a large-scale assault near the strategic town of Tal Al-Eis in order to recapture the villages of Zeitan and Tal Barakah from Hezbollah and the Syrian Army’s 4th Mechanized Division; however, things did not go according to plan for the combatants form Liwaa Suqour Al-Sham, Nouriddeen Al-Zinki Movement, Al-Nusra Front and Ahrar Al-Sham Movement.
Following a series of intense firefights that lasted for most of the day, the Syrian Army’s 4th Mechanized Division – backed by Hezbollah, the National Defense Forces (NDF) of Aleppo City, and Harakat Al-Nujaba (Iraqi paramilitary) – was able to push back the encroaching enemy militants after killing a confirmed 21 militants at Zeitan.
All-in-all, the counter-assault by the terrorist groups at Zeitan and Tal Barakat has proven costly for them as they have lost over 60 fighters and 2 field commanders over the last 48 hours in Southern Aleppo.
Reports said on Saturday that the terrorists of Al-Sham Movement, Al-Nusra Front (Syrian Al-Qaeda group), Liwaa Suqour Al-Sham, and Nouriddeen Al-Zinki Movement are getting more and more desperate in the Southern parts of Aleppo province, as they have launched multiple failed attacks on the Syrian Army’s defense positions over the last 48 hours.
On Friday morning, terrorists conducted a large-scale assault near the strategic town of Tal Al-Eis in order to recapture the villages of Zeitan and Tal Barakah from Hezbollah and the Syrian Army’s 4th Mechanized Division; however, things did not go according to plan for the combatants form Liwaa Suqour Al-Sham, Nouriddeen Al-Zinki Movement, Al-Nusra Front and Ahrar Al-Sham Movement.
Following a series of intense firefights that lasted for most of the day, the Syrian Army’s 4th Mechanized Division – backed by Hezbollah, the National Defense Forces (NDF) of Aleppo City, and Harakat Al-Nujaba (Iraqi paramilitary) – was able to push back the encroaching enemy combatants after killing a confirmed 21 militants at Zeitan.
All-in-all, the counter-assault by the terrorist groups at Zeitan and Tal Barakat has proven costly for them as they have lost over 60 fighters and 2 field commanders over the last 48 hours in Southern Aleppo.
Al-Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front’s positions near al-Ghajar gas station towards Jabourin and Um Sharshouh villages were remarkably destroyed by the Syrian government forces, who carried out a massive operation in the regions to push back the militants from the strategic area, the sources said.
“The army is trying to prevent the militant groups to access the gas station and its nearby areas,” the sources further added.
The militant groups that have sustained severe defeats in the recent week as a result of the government forces’ anti-terrorism operations across Syria, have preferred to carry out blind terrors in residential areas.
On Saturday, militant groups targeted residential areas near a hospital in al-Zahra neighborhood in the Eastern part of Homs city, killing at least 15 and injuring over 100 civilians.
The sources said that the militants’ car-bomb was exploded just 100 meters from the hospital, and left heavy human casualties and damage on properties.
“The terrorist groups exploded another bomb only few minutes after the first explosion to increase people’s death toll,” the sources added.
Informed sources said the militants surrendered to the competent authorities in the province.
The recent victories of the Syrian army and National Defense Forces (NDF), with the back up of the Russia fighter jets, have caused a growing number of militants to lay down their guns and apply for government pardoning.
Last week, militants began evacuating Homs province in Central Syria under a deal signed with the government later in November. Reports said the large convoy of retreating rebels are leaving Homs City for Idlib in Northwestern Syria. Al-Wa’ar was the only remaining base of the militants in the city of Homs.
As the army scores more wins across Syria more militants lay down arms to save the lives. Some 200 wanted militants from Zabadani region and Madaya in Damascus province surrendered on Friday.
“The Syrian government has vowed to pardon all those who lay down arms voluntarily and it has remained loyal to its pledge so far, and this has encouraged us to give up fight, specially considering that the government troops, National Defense Forces (NDF) and Hezbollah who also enjoy the air backup of the Syrian and Russian air forces has gained momentum in its battlefield victories,” one of those who surrendered in Damascus on December 5 said.
Until last year, most surrendering cases happened in Homs and Damascus provinces, but now a growing number of militants lay down arms across the country.
On Saturday, some 20 wanted Takfiri terrorists in Hama province gave up fight and turned themselves in to the authorities to enjoy the general amnesty issued by President Bashar Al-Assad that has been in place for the last several years.
President Bashar Assad’s government freed 270 militants within the framework of the country’s reconciliation plan on Friday.
Al-Qalamoun is strategically important because it is near the borders with Lebanon and the terrorists used it as a supply route to help other terrorists in other parts of Syria.
A bit of the territory has been left under the control of the militant groups in Qalamoun mountains. The Al-Nusra Front and the ISIL still control a small parcel of land in Jaroud Rankous (Southern Qalamoun) and another part of land in Jaroud Qarah (Northern Qalamoun).
The Syrian army and the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance fighters started their military operations to purge Al-Qalamoun region of terrorists on May 20.
In a recent development on Wednesday, the Syrian fighter jets bombed terrorists in the strategic Al-Qalamoun region in the Damascus countryside. The Syrian airstrikes left at least 18 terrorists dead many more injured in Al-Qalamoun region.
Deir Ezzur is roughly split 50/50 between the Syrian government and the hostile ISIL. However, with ISIL’s capture of Palmyra earlier this year, government troops have come under increasing pressure as their last supply line to the city has been cut. This has left the army and local inhabitants of the city completely dependent on supplies being flown in by helicopter.
In an attempt to halt the flow of supplies, ISIL terrorists have launched daily attacks on Deir Ezzur Airbase for months; however, they have been unsuccessful in their efforts so far. This is largely explained by a major deployment of the elite defensive soldiers of the 104th Airborne Brigade of the Republican Guard along with their fearsome Brigadier General, Issam Zahreddine.
Despite a permanent blockade, a bag of potatoes in Deir Ezzur costs approximately 600 Syrian Pounds which converts to about 3 dollars. In comparison, an al-Masdar source in Lattakia is able to buy his potatoes for just 350 Syrian Pounds. Last month, an al-Mayadeen report revealed that civilians could be evacuated from the city for 80 dollars. Sadly, most residents remain poor or jobless due to the ongoing conflict.
“The Russian fighter jets targeted heavily the strongholds of Jeish al-Islam militants in Eastern Ghouta to retaliate the rocket shelling of Damascus by the terrorist group,” the army said.
“The Russian warplanes also targeted concentration centers of the terrorist groups in Saqba, in which many militants were killed or wounded,” the army added.
Sources said earlier today that the Syrian army fired dozens of artillery shells at the terrorists’ positions in Damascus province, inflicting heavy losses on the Takfiris.
The Syrian army fired scores of artillery shells at terrorists’ positions and mortar launchers in Ein Terma, Jobar and Zamalka in Damascus countryside. The positions were reportedly used by the terrorists to launch their mortar attacks against civilians.
The Syrian army also fired tens of artillery shells at terrorists’ positions in Douma, Saqba and Hamouria in Damascus countryside.
Gov’t Forces Win Back New Town Southwest of Syria’s Aleppo
The army said that after hours of fierce clashes with the militant groups the Syrian government forces took full control over Banes a town in the Sothern part of al-Eis.
“The militants suffered a heavy death toll in the clashes and retreated from the battlefront after leaving behind their military vehicles and equipment,” the army added.
Earlier reports said that the Syrian army and the National Defense Forces (NDF) killed at least 10 ISIL terrorists and wounded many more after hours of fierce clashes with the militant group in the Eastern part of Aleppo province.
The army said that the clashes occurred near the villages of Rasm al-Kabir, Jarrouf and Beijan.
“The ISIL terrorists suffered a heavy death toll, and their military hardware was also destroyed in the Syrian government forces’ attacks,” the source said.
“The Syria army and its allies have gained upper hand against the militant groups, mainly against the Takfiri terrorists, wherever they have been backed up by the Russian and Syrian air forces,” the army further added.
Not only the ISIL, but other notorious militant groups, including Ahrar al-Sham have failed in the battles against the Syrian government forces.
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