Hezbollah’s Bloodiest Day in the Qalamoun Mountains: 6 Fighters Killed at Tal Thaljah

[Bleipriester]

Despite this casualties, Hezbollah and the Syrian army were able to secure all border crossings. The next goal of Hezbollah is to capture the city of Al-Zabadani.

"Monday proved to be the bloodiest day for Hezbollah in the Qalamoun Mountains of Syria, as the Lebanese Resistance force stormed the remaining positions of the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” at Tal Thaljah; this attack resulted in Hezbollah taking full control over this strategic hill located east of Tal Al-Moussa.

However, despite Hezbollah’s success at Tal Thaljah, the Lebanese Resistance force suffered their highest recorded death toll since the inception of this offensive in the Qalamoun Mountains – Hezbollah confirmed six casualties that included their senior field commander of operations in the Qalamoun Mountains – Ghassan Faqiya’ (AKA “Al-Hajj Saajid”) – who was reportedly killed on Monday morning.


Among the other casualties that were identified from Hezbollah were Ahmad Hussain Mohsen of Bleida, Nabitiyeh (South Lebanon), ‘Adnan Al-Sablineh of Al-Sarafand, Nabitiyeh (South Lebanon), and ‘Ali ‘Abbas Al-Hajj Hassan of Na’bi ‘Alaa, Beqa’a (East Lebanon) – the other casualties were not announced by Hezbollah as of yet.

According to a military source in Damascus, Hezbollah was fighting uphill against the enemy combatants from Jabhat Al-Nusra, with no air cover from the Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAF) because of weather conditions; however, the source further added that the Lebanese Resistance fighters killed a large number of Jabhat Al-Nusra militants before taking control of Tal Thaljah.

The battle for the Qalamoun Mountains is reaching its conclusion, as Hezbollah has asserted control over all border-crossings and the towns of Ras Al-Marra, Faleeta, and ‘Assal Al-Ward.

Hezbollah’s next military endeavor will be to capture the imperative resort-city of Al-Zabadani on the border of Lebanon and Syria in the Western Mountains; this city is critical to Hezbollah because of its proximity to their supply route from the Nabitiyeh Governorate in southern Lebanon and the Nahleh Municipality in eastern Lebanon."

Hezbollah s Bloodiest Day in the Qalamoun Mountains 6 Fighters Killed at Tal Thaljah

 

[Bleipriester]

The Syrian Army and Hezbollah Triumph Over Al-Qaeda in the Qalamoun Mountains

"While the militants from the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” boast about their victory at the city of Ariha in the Idlib Governorate, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and Hezbollah have secured 90 percent of the territory in the Qalamoun Mountains of Syria after countering the failed offensive by the Al-Qaeda linked militants on the border of Lebanon.

In fact, the Syrian Arab Army’s 20th and 128th Brigades of the 1st Armored Division and Hezbollah have secured the most important roads leading to Syria’s capital of Damascus from Lebanon, all the while, Jabhat Al-Nusra and their affiliates downplay the importance of their losses in the Qalamoun Mountains to create the façade that the Syrian Government and their armed forces are falling apart.


For Jabhat Al-Nusra, their Qalamoun offensive they launched in early May has turned into a complete disaster for their forces, as the Syrian Al-Qaeda organization has suffered 163 casualties (confirmed numbers) in the last two weeks; this is coupled with the fact they lost their most important stronghold in the Qalamoun Moountains at Tal Al-Moussa.

What does this mean for Jabhat Al-Nusra?

The loss of the Qalamoun Mountains leaves Jabhat Al-Nusra and their affiliates with only one last supply route into the Rif Dimashq Governorate from Lebanon; this supply route is located at the Al-Zabadani-Nahleh border-crossing, which is currently being contested by the SAA’s 41st Brigade of the 4th Mechanized Division and the 103th Brigade of the Republican Guard.

What does this mean for the Syrian Armed Forces?

If the Syrian Armed Forces can take complete control over the Qalamoun Mountains and Al-Zabdani, they will have effectively freed up 7,700 soldiers, two tank brigades, and elite forces from the SAA’s 4th Mechanized Division and the Republican Guard; this will allow them to redeploy these soldiers to the remaining militant pockets at the West Ghouta, Wadi Al-Barada, Ad-Dumayr, and the East Ghouta."

The Syrian Army and Hezbollah Triumph Over Al-Qaeda in the Qalamoun Mountains

 

[Bleipriester]

Rebels collapse as Syrian Army, Hezbollah storm Zabadani

"The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) backed by fighters from the Lebanese Hezbollah broke into the southwestern city of Zabadani after only four days of unremitting clashes with Islamic rebels.

Having captured the strategic Qalaat Al-Tal (Qalaat Al-Koko) yesterday, government troops and Hezbollah fighters entered today the western outskirts of the rebel-held city. The hill has been rated ‘critical’ as it overlooks the Jamiyat district; the town’s western entrance.



On Thursday, the Syrian Army began bombing militants’ staging points using heavy artillery, aerial bombardment, rocket launchers and short-range surface-to-surface missiles. It is only on Saturday that infantry troops engaged in the battle.

The allied forces also succeeded in isolating the city from the neighboring towns of Serghaya and Madaya after cutting off the main road to the north.

The city of Zabadani, located nearly 50 km northwest of the capital Damascus and only 8 km from Lebanon’s eastern borders, has fallen to rebels in 2012 after 11-day long battle with the Syria Army. It is mainly controlled by Jabhet Al-Nusra, (al-Qaeda offshoot in Syria), and other allied factions.

Local activists reported that Al-Nusra fighters prevented the families from leaving the town, using them as human shields.

Zabadani enjoys a strategic importance for Hezbollah since it serves as the lifeline for supplying the group with Iranian and Syrian weapons.

Being the rebels’ last stronghold in Qalamoun, the fall of Zabadani will mark a sweeping victory for the Syrian Army and Hezbollah after nearly the two-month long offensive in Qalamoun."

Rebels collapse as Syrian Army Hezbollah storm Zabadani

 

[starman]

So Assad may have a new lease on life. There was a report he's allowing ISIS to advance in certain areas to battle other opponents. If ISIS eliminates its rebel competition Assad can say only his regime is the only alternative to it.

 

[Bleipriester]

So Assad may have a new lease on life. There was a report he's allowing ISIS to advance in certain areas to battle other opponents. If ISIS eliminates its rebel competition Assad can say only his regime is the only alternative to it.

There will never be something positive about the Syrian government in the medias. The dynamic of this war does not make such operations possible or needful. There is no need to tell the world that the Syrian government is the only "alternative". Rebels are either led by al-Qaeda or ISIS. And when both groups decimate each other, all what the absurd Western propaganda monkeys do is to blame Assad. You can vary the first part of the sentence like you want but the second will never change.

 

[starman]

Rebels are either led by al-Qaeda or ISIS.

What about those in the south around Derra(sp?)

 

[Bleipriester]

What about those in the south around Derra(sp?)

This map is not up to date:

Black flag: al-Nusra (official al-Qaeda in Syria)

You can follow current happenings here:
Free Syrian Army launches offensive in a bid to take to take Daraa City US Message Board - Political Discussion Forum
Rebels Seize Syrian Army Base in a Blow to Assad US Message Board - Political Discussion Forum

 

[Bleipriester]

ISIS Reportedly Fighting Alongside the Free Syrian Army and Al-Qaeda in Al-Zabadani

"Reports from the resort-city of Al-Zabadani have confirmed that the western-backed “Free Syrian Army” (FSA) is currently fighting alongside two terrorist groups, the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” and the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS), as the Syrian Arab Army’s 63rd Brigade of the 4th Mechanized Division and Hezbollah continue their offensive on the Syrian-Lebanese border.

For almost a year, the FSA, ISIS and Jabhat Al-Nusra have been deeply entrenched in the vast Qalamoun and Western Mountains of Lebanon and Syria, while they attempted to maintain their strategic supply routes from the ‘Arsal District of the Beqa’a Governorate (Lebanon) amid relentless airstrikes from the Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAF).


However, the Syrian Armed Forces and Hezbollah began a long-awaited offensive in the Qalamoun Mountains of Syria and Lebanon in April of this year, capturing over 250 square kilometers of territory from the FSA, Jabhat Al-Nusra, and ISIS after 46 days of non-stop fighting along the Syrian-Lebanese border; this offensive paved the way for the eventual assault on Al-Zabadani.

The Al-Zabadani District has been nearly encircled by the Syrian Armed Forces for two years, but the FSA and Jabhat Al-Nusra have been able to survive within the city’s borders due to their constant ceasefire and reconciliation offerings to the Syrian Government – please note that the FSA and Jabhat Al-Nusra have violated every ceasefire agreement inside the city.

Now, with their backs against the wall, the three militant groups (FSA, ISIS, and Nusra) have found themselves sharing the same trenches against the encroaching SAA and Hezbollah soldiers.

Last winter, ISIS entered Al-Zabadani from the Lebanese border, staking their positions along the West Hills overlooking the city.

Despite bad blood with their former allies from the FSA and Jabhat Al-Nusra, only small skirmishes were reported between the militant groups inside Al-Zabadani; this was not the case in the Qalamoun Mountains, where they were at all out war for control of the northern barrens of Jaroud ‘Arsal (Lebanon) and Jaroud Qarah (Syria)."



Syrian Army and Hezbollah Control Half of Al-Zabadani

"The Syrian Arab Army’s 63rd Brigade of the 4th Mechanized Division and Hezbollah have taken control of half of Al-Zabadani after six days of intense fighting with the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” and their allies from the Free Syrian Army (FSA), Liwaa Suqour Al-Zabadani (Zabadani Hawks Brigade), and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham (Liberators of the Levant Movement).

On Wednesday morning, the Lebanese Resistance and the Syrian Armed Forces continued their advance along Main Street in southeast Al-Zabadani, where they imposed control over fifteen farms and building blocks en route to the city’s downtown that is now within 150 meters of their current frontlines.


Following their advance at Main Street, the Syrian Arab Army’s 63rd Brigade and Hezbollah secured Al-Sultaniyah Street near the village of Al-Jami’yat, killing over 25 enemy combatants from Jabhat Al-Nusra and the Free Syrian Army before nightfall dissipated the firefights inside the city of Al-Zabadani on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, at the village of Al-Zahra, the Syrian Armed Forces carried out a powerful assault on Jabhat Al-Nusra’s positions near the city of Al-Zabadani, capturing a number of new points under the cover of the Syrian Arab Air Force’s relentless airstrikes.

In a surprise visit, the Syrian Arab Army’s Chief of Staff, General ‘Ali ‘Ayoub, flew into the beautiful resort-city of Bloudan in order to inspect the 4th Mechanized Division’s positions and to meet with his officers in Al-Zabadani."

ISIS Reportedly Fighting Alongside the Free Syrian Army and Al-Qaeda in Al-Zabadani
Syrian Army and Hezbollah Control Half of Al-Zabadani

 

[starman]

So Assad may not be all washed up after all.

 

[Bleipriester]

The Battle for Al-Zabadani Heats Up: Islamist Rebels Flanked

"The Syrian Arab Army’s 63rd Brigade of the 4th Mechanized Division and Hezbollah are on the move in the resort-city of Al-Zabadani, capturing numerous buildings and street blocks, while also clearing the area of the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” and their allies from Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and the Free Syrian Army (FSA).

On Friday morning, the joint forces of the Syrian Arab Army and Hezbollah continued where they left off on Thursday night, attacking Jabhat Al-Nusra and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham at Al-Barada Street in the west district, where they were able to impose control over a number of empty villas used by the Islamist rebels to house their combatants inside Al-Zabadani.


Southwest of Al-Barada Street, the Islamist rebels attempted to push back the SAA’s 63rd Brigade at the Al-Houda Mosque; however, they were unsuccessful due to the persistent aerial attacks from the Syrian Arab Air Force’s Hind Helicopters that pounded their positions on Friday afternoon.

To make matters worse for the Jabhat Al-Nusra and their allies, the Syrian Armed Forces are also pushing into downtown Al-Zabadani from the east district; this has resulted in a flank from the east and west districts.

The Syrian Armed Forces are attempting to hook from the southwestern flank in order to push north towards the remaining Jabhat Al-Nusra and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham positions in Al-Zabadani’s city-center.

Even if the Syrian Armed Forces and the Lebanese Resistance were to capture Al-Zabadani in the coming days, the Islamist rebels still control territory west of Rankous (the border-crossing) and the town of Madaya."

The Battle for Al-Zabadani Heats Up Islamist Rebels Flanked

 

[starman]

There are claims that Syrian forces are under the command of Iranian officers. Not sure but that may mean better tactical decision making than existed hitherto.

 

[Bleipriester]

There are claims that Syrian forces are under the command of Iranian officers. Not sure but that may mean better tactical decision making than existed hitherto.

Some Iraqi forces are. The Syrian army has been maintained before the war and has gained much experience since 2011 and does not need foreign commands. It is the most experienced and professional anti-terror force now, applying that kind of warfare that suits best in each combat situation.

However, Iranian officers may be commanding Iranian organized troops fighting in Syria.

 

[starman]

However, Iranian officers may be commanding Iranian organized troops fighting in Syria.

There definitely have been reports of Iranians running Syrian operations.

 

[Bleipriester]

However, Iranian officers may be commanding Iranian organized troops fighting in Syria.

There definitely have been reports of Iranians running Syrian operations.

There have been many reports. Why should officers with no experience be better than Syrian experienced officers?

I am just curious what is going to happen about this:
Iran The world will be surprised by what we and the Syrian military leadership are preparing. US Message Board - Political Discussion Forum

Surely, Iranian officers will be there, too.

 

[starman]

However, Iranian officers may be commanding Iranian organized troops fighting in Syria.

There definitely have been reports of Iranians running Syrian operations.

There have been many reports. Why should officers with no experience be better than Syrian experienced officers?

Iranian officers have had plenty of experience. As the Iran-Iraq war showed they displayed greater tactical expertise than typical arab officers.

 

[Bleipriester]

However, Iranian officers may be commanding Iranian organized troops fighting in Syria.

There definitely have been reports of Iranians running Syrian operations.

There have been many reports. Why should officers with no experience be better than Syrian experienced officers?

Iranian officers have had plenty of experience. As the Iran-Iraq war showed they displayed greater tactical expertise than typical arab officers.

Maybe. But the Syrian army is not fighting regular armies. The terrorists don´t fight like a regular army and the Syrian army is no very experienced regarding the guerrilla warfare of FSA, Nusra and co. And why is the Iraqi army weak compared with the Syrian army and needs Iranian advisers, then? Did Iraqi army not gain experience in the Iraqi-Iranian war?

 

[starman]

Maybe. But the Syrian army is not fighting regular armies. The terrorists don´t fight like a regular army and the Syrian army is no very experienced regarding the guerrilla warfare of FSA, Nusra and co.

I don't think that is the key issue. Whether it's conventional war or guerilla, success requires tactical initiative, a weakness in arab forces.

And why is the Iraqi army weak compared with the Syrian army and needs Iranian advisers, then? Did Iraqi army not gain experience in the Iraqi-Iranian war?

Lol, sure but the sunnis were long the mainstay of Iraqi forces (as well as government generally) prior to the 2003 invasion. Much of the strength of ISIS relative to Baghdad's forces stems from sunni alienation. Many of Saddam's former officers have been driven into the arms of extremist groups with predictable results....

 

[Bleipriester]

Maybe. But the Syrian army is not fighting regular armies. The terrorists don´t fight like a regular army and the Syrian army is no very experienced regarding the guerrilla warfare of FSA, Nusra and co.

I don't think that is the key issue. Whether it's conventional war or guerilla, success requires tactical initiative, a weakness in arab forces.

And why is the Iraqi army weak compared with the Syrian army and needs Iranian advisers, then? Did Iraqi army not gain experience in the Iraqi-Iranian war?

Lol, sure but the sunnis were long the mainstay of Iraqi forces (as well as government generally) prior to the 2003 invasion. Much of the strength of ISIS relative to Baghdad's forces stems from sunni alienation. Many of Saddam's former officers have been driven into the arms of extremist groups with predictable results....

If the majority of the Sunnis would fight for Al-Qaeda or ISIS, it would be millions.

 

[irosie91]

Maybe. But the Syrian army is not fighting regular armies. The terrorists don´t fight like a regular army and the Syrian army is no very experienced regarding the guerrilla warfare of FSA, Nusra and co.

I don't think that is the key issue. Whether it's conventional war or guerilla, success requires tactical initiative, a weakness in arab forces.

And why is the Iraqi army weak compared with the Syrian army and needs Iranian advisers, then? Did Iraqi army not gain experience in the Iraqi-Iranian war?

Lol, sure but the sunnis were long the mainstay of Iraqi forces (as well as government generally) prior to the 2003 invasion. Much of the strength of ISIS relative to Baghdad's forces stems from sunni alienation. Many of Saddam's former officers have been driven into the arms of extremist groups with predictable results....

If the majority of the Sunnis would fight for Al-Qaeda or ISIS, it would be millions.

be not deceived-----ALL of the factions, the sunnis the Shiites and alawites and Iranians are fighting the MUSLIM WAY------RAPE, PILLAGE, OBSCENE MUTILATION -----UTTER FILTH

 

[Bleipriester]

Maybe. But the Syrian army is not fighting regular armies. The terrorists don´t fight like a regular army and the Syrian army is no very experienced regarding the guerrilla warfare of FSA, Nusra and co.

I don't think that is the key issue. Whether it's conventional war or guerilla, success requires tactical initiative, a weakness in arab forces.

And why is the Iraqi army weak compared with the Syrian army and needs Iranian advisers, then? Did Iraqi army not gain experience in the Iraqi-Iranian war?

Lol, sure but the sunnis were long the mainstay of Iraqi forces (as well as government generally) prior to the 2003 invasion. Much of the strength of ISIS relative to Baghdad's forces stems from sunni alienation. Many of Saddam's former officers have been driven into the arms of extremist groups with predictable results....

If the majority of the Sunnis would fight for Al-Qaeda or ISIS, it would be millions.

be not deceived-----ALL of the factions, the sunnis the Shiites and alawites and Iranians are fighting the MUSLIM WAY------RAPE, PILLAGE, OBSCENE MUTILATION -----UTTER FILTH

That´s - of course - nonsense. It is fanatic religiousness, indeed, that makes some black sheep go mad. But this is not limited to Islam.