Terrorist attack on Idlib failed, over 1200 terrorists dead

[Bleipriester]

Army’s chief of staff visits a number of military units in Idleb, Hama countryside

"Damascus, SANA-Upon the directives of President Bashar al-Assad, Commander-in-chief of the army and armed forces, the army’s Chief of Staff Ali Abdullah Ayoub visited on Tuesday the army members in Idleb and Hama north-western countryside where he met the combatants and inspected their situation and conditions of their task.

Major General Ayoub affirmed the important role of the army soldiers in confronting the terrorist gangs and overthrowing plots aiming at weakening Syria and abandoning it from its resistant role against the hostile colonial projects.


He appreciated the high combatant and moral spirit the army members are enjoying against psychological and propaganda war which attempts to affect the Syrian people and army who stand against terrorism sponsors.

The field officers briefed Major General Ayoub on a detailed explanation about the nature of combatant tasks the Syrian army forces are carrying out in the region and the measures taken to preserve the military posts and fortifying them against the attacks of terrorist groups.

At the end of the tour, Ayoub expressed the military leadership’s appreciation for the efforts and sacrifices offered by men of the armed forces in defending the Homeland, affirming that the Syrian people’s eyesight aspire for them with high confidence in defeating terrorism."

Army s chief of staff visits a number of military units in Idleb Hama countryside

 

[Bleipriester]

Syrian Army Quietly Advancing Near Zayzoun in Idlib

"The last two months have been rough for the Syrian Armed Forces in the province of Idlib, as the losses at Idlib City, Ariha, Al-Mastoumah, and the Qarmeed Camp have taken a toll on the morale of the soldiers entrenched on this front; these losses came one after another, with the loss of the provincial capital being the first defeat at the hands of Jaysh Al-Fatah.

Following the recent loss of Ariha, the Syrian Armed Forces looked all but set to depart from the Idlib Governorate; however, a recent Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) offensive in northern Aleppo has forced the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” and their allies from Jund Al-Aqsa and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham to mobilize their forces to the Mar’e and ‘Azaz fronts to combat the swarming militants.


As a result of spreading their forces too thin, Jaysh Al-Fatah has allowed the Syrian Armed Forces to sprout a small offensive near the town of Zayzoun in rural Idlib; this is an imperative town to the Syrian Arab Army’s 87th Brigade of the 11th Tank Division, as it fortifies their thin supply route to the province and builds a barrier from Jaysh Al-Fatah’s positions to the east of the Al-Ghaab Plains.

On Monday morning, the Syrian Arab Army’s 87th Brigade – in coordination with the Tiger Forces and the 45th Regiment of the 1st Armored Division – launched a surprise assault at Tal A’our, resulting in the capture of this strategic hill that overlooks Zayzoun from the west after almost three hours of intense firefights with Jabhat Al-Nusra.

The Syrian Armed Forces have not stopped there, as the Tiger Forces – in coordination with the National Defense Forces (NDF) and the 45 Regiment – capitalized on Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham’s poor defenses at Sanqarah, capturing this village located directly north of their final supply route to the province of Idlib."

Syrian Army Quietly Advancing Near Zayzoun in Idlib

 

[Bleipriester]

Battle for Idlib Intensifies as the Syrian Army and Jaysh Al-Fatah Both Make Gains

"The month of June has already gotten off to an odd start for the Syrian Armed Forces (Syrian Arab Army and National Defense Forces) and the conglomerate of Islamist militias known as “Jaysh Al-Fatah” (e.g. Jabhat Al-Nusra and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham) inside the Idlib Governorate, as both parties are gaining ground in the opposite direction of one another and further complicating the battlefield for this war’s observers.

On Friday morning, the Syrian Arab Army’s “Tiger Forces” – in coordination with the 87th Brigade of the 11th Tank Division and the 45th Regiment of the 1st Armored Division – carried out a powerful assault at the hills overlooking the strategic town of Zayzoun, killing 21 enemy combatants from the Syrian Al-Qaeda organization “Jabhat Al-Nusra” and their affiliates before they imposed full control over the hilltop at Sid Al-Zayzoun.

In addition to their success at Sid Zayzoun, the Tiger Forces and the National Defense Forces (NDF) attacked the militants from Jabhat Al-Nusra and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham at Marj Al-Zihour, resulting in a series of fierce clashes before the latter Islamist groups were forced to withdraw from this collection of hills in the Idlib Governorate.

To counter the Syrian Armed Forces success, the militants from Jaysh Al-Fatah launched a fresh offensive at Jabal Sheikh ‘Ali near the recently captured city of Ariha; this assault is geared to capture the villages of Hosh Basinqoul, Basinqoul, and Taba’iq that are currently under the control of the National Defense Forces and the Syrian Arab Army.

According to social media activists from the Syrian Opposition, the militants from Jaysh Al-Fatah have already captured Hosh Basinqoul; however, there has been no official confirmation from the Syrian Armed Forces."

Battle for Idlib Intensifies as the Syrian Army and Jaysh Al-Fatah Both Make Gains

 

[Bleipriester]

Jaysh Al-Fatah Launches Offensive at Sheikh Al-‘Ali Mountains in Idlib

"The battle for Idlib is heating up, as the militants led by the Syrian Al-Qaeda organization “Jabhat Al-Nusra” and their allies from the largest militia in the Levantine Front “Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham” have launched another offensive inside the province; this time, their objective was to capture the towns surrounding the Sheikh Al-‘Ali Mountains on the Latakia-Aleppo Highway.

On early Friday morning, the Jaysh Al-Fatah plan came to fruition, when a large group of militants from Jabhat Al-Nusra and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham stormed the towns of Sanqarah, Al-Nahal, Basniqoul, Hosh Basniqoul, Mahambal, Tabayah, Al-Qayasat, and ‘Aynatah, where they met a contingent of soldiers from the National Defense Forces (NDF) and the 45th Regiment of the 1st Armored Division.


Unable to maintain their frontline positions at Tabayah, Hosh Basniqoul, Al-Nahal, Sanqarah, and Aynatah, the Syrian Armed Forces were forced to withdraw in order to reinforce the towns of Bansiqoul and Mahambal, as Jabhat Al-Nusra and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham fighters were swarming this area from both flanks.

The Syrian Armed Forces were able to recover some ground lost after they forestalled the militant offensive at Basniqoul and Mahambal; however, they were only able to recapture the town of Al-Nahal after fierce clashes with the enemy combatants from Jaysh Al-Fatah.

Jabhat Al-Nusra and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham will attempt to capture the remaining towns under the Syrian Armed Forces possession on Saturday, despite the fact that the latter is on the offensive near the town of Zayzoun and the eastern part of the Al-Ghaab Plains of Idlib,"

Jaysh Al-Fatah Launches Offensive at Sheikh Al- Ali Mountains in Idlib

 

[Bleipriester]

Jaysh Al-Fateh’s attack in Idlib thwarted, scores dead

"Dozens of Jaysh Al-Fateh fighters were killed in the group’s latest offensive against Army posts in southern outskirts of Idlib province.

The attack, launched on Saturday night, aimed to capture the government’s last strongholds in the province. However, it seems the Syrian Arab Army had a different narrative.


Local sources told Al-Masdar that hundreds of fighters launched a wide-scale offensive on Tal Khattab where Army troops retreated for a few miles only to pound the militant’s gatherings with different types of missiles leaving most of the infiltrators dead.

In Zayzoun dam, tens of Islamic fighters were ambushed by the Army as they were attempting to break into the area. Most of the attackers were killed, the rest fled wounded. “The lake turned red as militants were shot dead”, the sources said.

The offensive was orchestrated by Emir of Ajnad Kavkas Abdul Hakim Al-Shishani. Since the outset of Syrian crisis on March 2011, thousands of extremist fighters from the Caucasus travelled to Syria to join the fight alongside terror groups against President Bashar Assad and establish a de facto “Islamic Emirate” in the area.

Jaysh Al-Fateh (Army of Conquest) is an alliance of forces formed on last March, made up primarily of al-Qaeda-affiliated Jabhet Al-Nusra, along
with numerous Islamist rebel factions mainly active in Idlib, Hama andLattakia. The alliance managed to establish control over large areas including Jisr Al-Shughour and Al-Qarmeed Camp."

Jaysh Al-Fateh s attack in Idlib thwarted scores dead

 

[Bleipriester]

Jaysh Al-Fatah Begins Another Offensive at the Al-Ghaab Plains

"The Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” was rather busy on Wednesday, as their armed combatants – alongside Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and Jund Al-Aqsa – carried out two large scale offensives that targeted the territory under the control of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and National Defense Forces (NDF) in the Idlib and Aleppo Governorates of northern Syria.

With the Aleppo offensive off to a brutal start, Jabhat Al-Nusra and their allies have shifted their focus to the Al-Ghaab Plains in the Idlib and Hama Governorates, where the Syrian Arab Army’s 87 Brigade of the 11th Tank Division and the 45th Artillery Regiment of the 1st Armored Division have captured a number of hills near the strategic town of Al-Qastal.


Around 9:30 P.M. (Damascus Time), the militants from Jabhat Al-Nusra and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham began their large-scale offensive at Tal Khattab in order to recapture the strategic hill of Tal A’our; this hill is critical to the Islamist fighters because it provided them a centralized location to launch their U.S. manufactured anti-tank TOW missiles at the SAA’s encroaching tanks.

In addition to their assault on Tal Khattab, Jabhat Al-Nusra and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham attacked the Syrian Arab Army’s positions at Zayzoun, resulting in a series of fierce clashes at the southeastern perimeter of the town before the Syrian Armed Forces were able to repel the swarming enemy combatants.

Firefights are still ongoing between the Syrian Arab Army and Jabhat Al-Nusra at Tal Khattab; however, there has been no reported advancement made by the aforementioned as of yet."

Jaysh Al-Fatah Begins Another Offensive at the Al-Ghaab Plains

 

[Bleipriester]

Syrian Army Recaptures Tal Khattab in the Al-Ghaab Plains

"On Wednesday night, the militants from the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” – in coordination with Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and Jund Al-Aqsa – launched another offensive at the Al-Ghaab Plains; this time, to recapture the territory that they conceded to the Syrian Armed Forces three weeks ago during a successful counter-offensive near the town of Zeyzoun.

The offensive began at 9:30 P.M. (Damascus Time) on Wednesday night, when a large contingent of fighters from Jabhat Al-Nusra, Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham, and Jund Al-Aqsa attacked (in unison) the Syrian Arab Army’s 87th Brigade of the 11th Tank Division at Tal Khattab, resulting in the capture of the aforementioned hill after a series of fierce clashes between the two opposing parties.


Following the capture of Tal Khattab, the militants from Jabhat Al-Nusra attempted to push further west towards the strategic hilltop at Tal A’our; however, the Syrian Armed Forces entrenched at this hill in the Al-Ghaab Plains were unmoved by the ferocious enemy attack, as they repelled the militants after a brief encounter at the eastern perimeter of Tal A’our.

With Jabhat Al-Nusra failing to breach their defenses at Tal A’our, the Syrian Arab Army’s 87th Brigade – in coordination with the 45th Regiment of the 1st Armored Division – launched a counter-assault to retake Tal Khattab from the conglomerate of Al-Qaeda affiliates; this resulted in the recapture of Tal Khattab and the hills surrounding this area before sunrise on Thursday morning."

Syrian Army Recaptures Tal Khattab in the Al-Ghaab Plains

 

[Bleipriester]

Opposition loses more militants in Idlib, SAA clings to posts

"For the third time in a week, al-Nusra-led Jaysh Al Fateh fails to make any progress in the government-held hills of Tal Khattab and Tal Al-A’war located to the southwest of Idlib.

The Islamic militants desperately strive to take over the strategic hills to complete their control on the Army’s last strongholds in the province and gain access to Al-Ghab plains, where Army troops are mobilizing forces.


A source told Al-Masdar that tens of militants were killed in the latest push; the clashes were so fierce so that their corpses couldn’t be recovered yet.

The source confirmed that Army troops managed to destroy a 4×4 vehicle equipped with a 23 mm machine gun, and seize a T72 tank.

Earlier last week, Jaysh Al-Fateh declared through social media outlets that it will launch a wide-scale assault against the government-held areas, vowing to reach the Town of Jourin within days. Obviously, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and National Defense Forces (NDF) wouldn’t allow such claims to be fulfilled.

Jaysh Al-Fateh (Army of Conquest) is an alliance formed in March and comprises a number of extremist factions led by the Al-Qaeda Syrian branch, Jabhet Al-Nusra, in order to fight the Syrian Arab Army in Idlib governorate in northern Syria."

Opposition loses more militants in Idlib SAA clings to posts

 

[Bleipriester]

Jaysh Al-Fateh Unable to Advance at the Al-Ghaab Plains

"In a matter of six weeks, the conglomerate of Islamist militias that form “Jaysh Al-Fateh” (predominately Jabhat Al-Nusra and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham)captured a substantial amount of territory from the Syrian Armed Forces in the Idlib Governorate; thus, leaving many civilians in the nearby Latakia Governorate with a strong feeling of apprehension and panic, as the Islamist forces inch closer to the coastal province.

However, there was one more military endeavor for the militants of Jaysh Al-Fateh in order for them to reach the Syrian Government’s stronghold of Latakia: the Al-Ghaab Plains of rural Idlib and Hama.


In addition to its rugged terrain, the Al-Ghaab Plains has the largest concentration of Syrian Alawis outside of the Latakia and Tartous Governorates, making the environment extremely hostile for the Islamist militants trying to capture its entirety; it also boasts one of the strongest contingents from the National Defense Forces (NDF), as the aforementioned fighters from the predominately Christian town of Al-Sqaylabiyah number in the thousands.

Despite the prevalence of this information, the militants of Jaysh Al-Fateh have disregarded these warnings and waged a large-scale assault on this Syrian Government stronghold, resulting in rather disappointing results for the aforementioned militant group.

On Saturday morning, the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” – in coordination with Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and Ajnad Al-Sham – attempted to recapture the strategic hills at Tal Khattab and Tal A’our; however, instead achieving successful results, the armed combatants suffered heavy casualties, as the Syrian Armed Forces were able to route the Al-Qaeda affiliated fighters from this area.

For the militants of Jaysh Al-Fateh, Tal A’our and Tal Khattab are two imperative hills that provide them with the flexibility to utilize their surplus of anti-tank tank TOW missiles on the encroaching Syrian Arab Army’s tanks that threaten their western and northern flanks.

As the battle continues to wage on, the militants from Jaysh Al-Fateh will be forced to utilize more fighters in order to combat the soldiers of the Syrian Armed Forces that are entrenched around this rugged terrain."

Jaysh Al-Fateh Unable to Advance at the Al-Ghaab Plains

 

[Bleipriester]

Breaking: Syrian Army Captures Tal Sheikh Khattab Near Jisr Al-Shughour

"Moments ago, the Syrian Arab Army’s 87th Brigade of the 11th Tank Division – in coordination with the National Defense Forces (NDF) and the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) – took full control of Tal Sheikh Khattab – a hill located near the strategic city of Jisr Al-Shughour in the northwestern countryside of the Idlib Governorate.

The news of this successful operation comes one week after the Syrian Arab Army’s 106th Brigade of the Republican Guard and the 45 Tank Regiment captured four villages in the southeastern countryside of the Al-Ghaab plains near the city of Sqaylabiyah.


In addition to their success at Tal Sheikh Khattab, the SAA’s 87th Brigade and the National Defense Forces conducted another assault at the hills surrounding the strategic town of Al-Sirmaniyah in the Al-Ghaab Plains, killing a dozen enemy combatants from the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” and their allies from Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and Ansar Al-Sham.

On the other side of the Al-Ghaab Plains, the Syrian Armed Forces targeted the militants of Jabhat Al-Nusra and Jund Al-Aqsa at Tal Qastoun, where they launched a barrage of mortar shells and rockets in the direction the enemy’s defensive positions around this imperative hill overlooking the town of Qastoun in Rif Idlib."

Breaking Syrian Army Captures Tal Sheikh Khattab Near Jisr Al-Shughour

 

[Bleipriester]

Jaysh Al-Fateh Suffers Over 50 Casualties in Failed Counter-Assault Near Jisr Al-Shughour

Former opponents of the Syrian army

"Three hours after the Syrian Arab Army’s 87th Brigade of the 11th Tank Division captured the strategic hilltop at Tal Sheikh Khattab, the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” and their allies from Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and Ansar Al-Sham launched a counter-assault to recapture this hill near the city of Jisr Al-Shughour in the northwestern country of the Idlib Governorate.

However, the aforementioned Islamist groups that form the largest forces in “Jaysh Al-Fateh” conducted a sloppy and poorly planned counter-assault at the northern perimeter of Tal Sheikh Khattab, leaving themselves exposed to the Syrian Arab Air Force’s (SAAF) multitude of relentless airstrikes on their positions in broad daylight.


Following their first attempt to break-through the Syrian Arab Army’s frontlines at the northern perimeter of Tal Sheikh Al-Khattab, Jaysh Al-Fateh suffered an estimated 30 casualties, including their field commander “Abu ‘Abdullah Al-Jazrawi” (Saudi) and a number of his foreign and domestic fighters that were identified as “Umar Al-Uzbeki” (Uzbek), “Abu Hamza Al-Musri” (Egyptian), “Abu Habibi Al-Musri” (Egyptian), “Abu Jaber Al-Ansari”, “Abu Hajar Al-Raqawi”, and “Abu Harirah Al-Homsi.”

Jaysh Al-Fateh’s second attempt to recapture this strategic hilltop was also repelled by the Syrian Armed Forces, resulting in the death of an estimated two dozen enemy combatants and the destruction of three armored vehicles by the Syrian Air Forces before the Islamist forces would finally call it quits and withdraw to the north.

According to a military source in the Al-Ghaab Plains, the Syrian Armed Forces killed an estimated 50 plus enemy combatants, while only suffering a total of 9 casualties – to be fair, the majority of the casualties sustained by the Jaysh Al-Fateh were a result of their failed counter-attack."

Jaysh Al-Fateh Suffers Over 50 Casualties in Failed Counter-Assault Near Jisr Al-Shughour

 

[Bleipriester]

Jaysh Al-Fateh Recaptures Al-Mansoura in the Al-Ghaab Plains

"The Syrian Arab Army’s 106th Brigade of the Republican Guard – in coordination with the National Defense Forces (NDF) – made significant progress in the Al-Ghaab Plains on Tuesday night, capturing the towns of Khirbat Al-Naqous, Al-Mansoura, and Tal Wassit after fierce clashes with the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” and their allies from Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and Jund Al-Sham.

On Wednesday morning, the conglomerate of Islamist militias “Jaysh Al-Fateh” launched a counter-assault at Al-Mansoura, where they successfully recaptured the town after a brief battle with the National Defense Forces stationed around its parameters.


Following the capture of Al-Mansoura by the Jaysh Al-Fateh militants, the National Defense Forces withdrew from the aforementioned town towards Tal Wassit, where they fortified their positions alongside the Republican Guard at the hilltop’s northern perimeter.

Despite their success at the town of Al-Mansoura, the Islamist groups from Jaysh Al-Fateh were unsuccessful in their attempt to regain control of Tal Wassit and Khirbat Al-Naqous, resulting in the death of over 25 enemy combatants and the destruction of two armored vehicles that were mounted with 23mm anti-aircraft machine guns.

In the southeastern countryside of the Al-Ghaab Plains, the Syrian Armed Forces targeted the militants of Jabhat Al-Nusra at the Al-Kareem-Al-Shari’ah axis, killing 13 enemy combatants before advancing east of their launching point.

South of Jisr Al-Shughour, the Syrian Arab Army’s 87th Brigade of the 11th Tank Division downed a Turkish reconnaissance drone near the hilltop at Tal Sheikh Khattab after it was spotted circling their positions."

Jaysh Al-Fateh Recaptures Al-Mansoura in the Al-Ghaab Plains

 

[Bleipriester]

Only a matter of time, until Sally or similar propaganda birds will show up with Al-Qaeda propaganda accusing the Syrian government of using chemical weapons as Al-Qaeda has used chlorine gas once again.

Jaysh Al-Fateh Announces Their New Offensive at Al-Fou’aa and Kafraya

"The conglomerate of Al-Qaeda affiliates “Jaysh Al-Fateh” (Army of Conquest) has announced a retaliatory offensive at the predominately Shi’i towns of Al-Fou’aa and Kafraya in the Idlib Governorate after the Syrian Armed Forces and Hezbollah continued their advance at the resort-city of Al-Zabadani in the Rif Dimashq Governorate.

This reprisal was issued after the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” threatened to cutoff the water supply to the residents of Damascus if the Syrian Armed Forces and Hezbollah did not withdraw from Al-Zabadani – the aforementioned armies refused to accept this compromise with the rebel groups.


Al-Fou’aa and Kafraya are two farming towns located directly north of Idlib City that possess an aggregated population of approximately 20,000 citizens – mostly Shi’i inhabitants – and a local National Defense Forces’ contingent of 2,250 men (estimates as high as 4,000).

On Wednesday morning, Jasyh Al-Fateh launched over 150 gas canisters, mortar shells, and rockets into the towns of Al-Fou’aa and Kafraya, resulting in the death of 11 civilians, while also causing massive fires around the residential neighborhoods, due to the hell-fire cannons.

Reports from locals in Al-Fou’aa and Kafraya have confirmed that the two towns are under the complete control of the Syrian Armed Forces and that there were only small skirmishes at the northwestern axis of Kafraya."



Jaysh Al-Fateh has attacked the towns of Al-Fou’aa and Kafraya before; however, they failed to infiltrate the National Defense Forces’ frontline positions, resulting in their eventual withdrawal from the outskirts of these towns."

Jaysh Al-Fateh Announces Their New Offensive at Al-Fou aa and Kafraya

 

[Bleipriester]

Syrian Army Reverses Jaysh Al-Fateh’s Gains in the Al-Ghaab Plains

"The conglomerate of Al-Qaeda affiliates that form “Jaysh Al-Fateh”launched a counter-offensive to recapture the towns of Tal Wassit, Al-Mansoura, and Khirbat Al-Naqous in the eastern countryside of the Al-Ghaab Plains on Wednesday.

Some 24 hours into the counter-offensive, Jaysh Al-Fateh – led by Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” – recaptured Al-Mansoura after a brief firefight with the National Defense Forces (NDF) at the eastern axis of the town – the latter withdrew to Tal Wassit


The following day, Jaysh Al-Fateh conducted another successful counter-assault in the Al-Ghaab Plains; this time, the joint Jabhat Al-Nusra and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham attack resulted in the capture of Khirbat Al-Naqous, following a series of clashes on Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, in the southeastern countryside of the Al-Ghaab Plains, the militants of Jaysh Al-Fateh took control of Al-Kareem, Qabr Al-Fidda, and Al-Haweez after broke through the National Defense Forces frontline positions in these towns.

With their backs against the wall, the Syrian Armed Forces withdrew their soldiers in order to regroup and launch their own counter-offensive on Thursday afternoon; this would result in the recapture of Al-Kareem, Qabr Al-Fidda, and Al-Haweez, as the militants of Jaysh Al-Fateh were unable to maintain their defenses.

The Syrian Armed Forces refused to sit idly in the northeastern countryside of the Al-Ghaab Plains; instead, they mustered up another offensive to recapture Khirbat Al-Naqous – it proved successful, as the militants of Jabhat al-Nusra and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham were forced to retreat towards Al-Qastoun."

Syrian Army Reverses Jaysh Al-Fateh s Gains in the Al-Ghaab Plains

 

[Bleipriester]

Jaysh Al-Fateh Launches Their 3rd Offensive at Al-Fou’aa and Kafraya

"For the third time in two weeks, the conglomerate of Al-Qaeda affiliated militant groups “Jaysh Al-Fateh” (Army of Conquest) has conducted a brutal assault at the outskirts of the predominately Shi’i towns of Al-Fou’aa and Kafraya.

On Monday morning, Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham – in coordination with the Syrian Al-Qaeda organization “Jabhat Al-Nusra” and their offshoot “Jund Al-‘Aqsa” – carried out another powerful assault from three different flanks, targeting Al-Fou’aa from their positions at the southern perimeter, and Kafraya from the western and northern perimeters.


Unfortunately for the Jaysh Al-Fateh groups, their infiltration attempt was repelled by the civilian-led National Defense Forces (NDF), resulting in the death of 22 confirmed enemy combatants and the destruction of an armored vehicle mounted with a doshka.

Following their failed assault on Monday morning, Jaysh Al-Fateh regrouped to launch another assault from their positions at Brouma Farms and Binnish; however, their infiltration attempt has been relatively unsuccessful, as the Syrian Armed Forces have yet to concede any territory to Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and their allies.

Al-Fou’aa and Kafraya are located directly north of the Idlib Governorate’s provincial capital and they remain as the only towns under the Syrian Government’s control in the Idlib Governorate.

Almost 30,000 civilians remain in Al-Fou’aa and Kafraya; if these two towns are captured by Jaysh Al-Fateh, there is great concern over a possible massacre due to the population’s predominately Shi’i religious denomination."

Jaysh Al-Fateh Launches Their 3rd Offensive at Al-Fou aa and Kafraya

 

[Bleipriester]

Jaysh Al-Fateh Captures Remaining Hills Near Jisr Al-Shughour

"The conglomerate of Al-Qaeda affiliates known as “Jaysh Al-Fateh” have regrouped and captured the strategic hills of Tal Khattab, Tal ‘Awar, and Tal Hamka; along with the towns of Frikka, Mushayrafah, Salat Al-Zuhour, and Zayzoun after the Syrian Arab Army’s 87th Brigade of the 11th Tank Division withdrew from this stretch of agricultural lands in the Idlib Governorate.

With the capture of these sites in the Al-Ghaab Plains, the Islamist groups that make up Jaysh Al-Fateh have now secured the remaining area that surrounds the imperative city of Jisr Al-Shughour; this was guaranteed after they took control of the Sawmill Barrier earlier this morning.


According to field reports from the Idlib Governorate, the Islamist groups from Jaysh Al-Fateh and the Syrian Armed Forces clashed for two hours before the aforementioned withdrew to the south in order to reinforce their positions near the hills at Tal Wassit and Tal Sheikh Elyas.

The Syrian Armed Forces will have to find another route to the city of Jisr Al-Shughour after their withdrawal this morning, as Jaysh Al-Fateh has completely cut them off from the eastern flank; this leaves only the southern flank of Jisr Al-Shughour susceptible to an assault by the Syrian Armed Forces from the town of Ishtabraq."

Jaysh Al-Fateh Captures Remaining Hills Near Jisr Al-Shughour

 

[Bleipriester]

Syrian Army Counters at the Al-Ghaab Plains: Ziyarah and Tal Wassit Recaptured

"On Tuesday morning, the conglomerate of Al-Qaeda affiliates known as “Jaysh Al-Fateh” (Army of Conquest) made rapid advances across the northeastern countryside of the Al-Ghaab Plains in only two hours, capturing the towns of Frikka and Mushayrafah, along with the hilltops at Tal Wassit, Tal Sheikh Elyas, Tal ‘Awar, and Tal Sheikh Khattab.

With the Syrian Arab Army’s 87th Brigade of the 11th Tank Division withdrawing from the remaining territory in the Idlib Governorate, the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” and their Qatari-backed allies from Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and Ansar Al-Sham were able to impose full control over this vast array of farmland on the Hama Governorate’s border.


Following their massive withdrawal, the SAA’s 87th Brigade regrouped to the western countryside of the Al-Ghaab Plains in order to prepare for a counter-assault; this time, they would attack alongside their allies from the National Defense Forces (NDF) and the Lions of the Mountain Brigade (Liwaa Al-Assoud Al-Jabal).

Around 1:00 P.M. (Damascus Time) on Tuesday afternoon, the Syrian Armed Forces struck back at Tal Wassit and Ziyarah, killing two dozen enemy combatants from Jaysh Al-Fateh before they were able to impose full control over these towns in the Al-Ghaab Plains of the Hama Governorate.

Clashes are still ongoing between the Syrian Armed Forces and the Al-Qaeda affiliates to the east of Tal Wassit; however, both parties have yet to advance in the last 12 hours."

http://www.almasdarnews.com/article...aab-plains-ziyarah-and-tal-wassit-recaptured/

 

[Bleipriester]

Syrian Army Makes Substantial Gains in the Al-Ghaab Plains

"On Wednesday morning, the Syrian Arab Army’s 87th Brigade of the 11th Tank Division – in coordination with the National Defense Forces (NDF) and the 45th Regiment of the 1st Armored Division – surprised the militants from Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” with a powerful assault on their positions in the eastern countryside of the Al-Ghaab Plains.

Caught off guard, Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and Jabhat Al-Nusra both withdrew from the Khirbat Al-Naqous-Tal Wassit axis after the Syrian Armed Forces fractured their frontline defenses, leaving the Islamist rebel groups with no choice but to retreat to the eastern sector of Khirbat Al-Naqous.


Following the Jabhat Al-Nusra and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham retreat to the eastern sector of Khirbat Al-Naqous, the Syrian Armed Forces launched another assault on this town in west Hama, capturing the remaining Islamist rebel positions before they advanced to the small town of Al-Mansoura to the east.

Once again, Jabhat Al-Nusra and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham were unable to maintain their defensive positions; this allowed for the Syrian Armed Forces to take full control of Al-Mansoura Hill before they were able to capture the town of Al-Mansoura.

With Al-Mansoura and Khirbat Al-Naqous under their control once again, the Syrian Armed Forces would capture Tal Al-Dayr and Tal Barki after fierce clashes with Jabhat Al-Nusra.

The conglomerate of Al-Qaeda affiliates from “Jaysh Al-Fateh” began to shell the peaceful town of the Al-Sqaylabiyah on Wednesday, leaving one civilian severely wounded after a shell hit his home."

Syrian Army Makes Substantial Gains in the Al-Ghaab Plains

 

[Bleipriester]

Breaking: Syrian Army Captures Zayzoun in the Al-Ghaab Plains

"Moments ago, the Syrian Arab Army’s 87th Brigade of the 11th Tank Division – in coordination with the National Defense Forces (NDF) – recaptured the town of Zayzoun in the Al-Ghaab Plains of the Idlib Governorste.

The capture of Zayzoun comes 72 hours after the Syrian Armed Forces conducted a major withdrawal from the towns located directly south of Frikka; this large retreat seemed to be pre-planned, as the SAA withdrew from the towns in a matter of two hours.


Two days ago, the Syrian Armed Forces launched a counter-offensive to recapture their lost territory, while also pushing south towards the town of Qahira.

The goal of this new offensive is to capture the city of Jisr Al-Shughour to the north; Kafr Zita from its western flank; Qastoun from its western flank; and Al-Sirmaniyah on the border of the Prophet Younis Mountains.

This will not be an easy task for the Syrian Armed Forces, as the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” and their allies from Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and Ansar Al-Sham are poised to maintain their territorial gains amid the persistent bombardments from the Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAF).

Currently, clashes are ongoing between the Syrian Armed Forces and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham at the town of Qahira; however, there have been no reported gains."

Breaking Syrian Army Captures Zayzoun in the Al-Ghaab Plains

 

[Bleipriester]

Syrian Army Advances to Qahira in the Al-Ghaab Plains

"Two days after capturing the strategically located towns of Al-Mansoura and Khirbat Naqous in the Al-Ghaab Plains, the Syrian Arab Army’s 87th Brigade of the 11th Tank Division – in coordination with the National Defense Forces (NDF) and the 106th Brigade of the Republican Guard – carried out a powerful assault on the Islamist rebel positions at the Grain Silos near the town of Qahira.

Following a violent exchange between the two parties at the Grain Silos, the Syrian Armed Forces were able to impose full control over this area after Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” withdrew from the compounds in the direction of Qahira


It did not take long for the Syrian Armed Forces to advance to the outskirts of Qahira after they secured the Grain Silos, as the latter pounded the Islamist rebel-held town in the Al-Ghaab plains with a barrage of artillery shells before they stormed the northwestern sector.

Qahira is an imperative town located inside the southern half of the Al-Ghaab Plains in the Hama Governorate; if the Syrian Armed Forces can take control of this area, they will have effectively flanked Jabhat Al-Nusra and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham at the town of Al-Shari’ah."

Syrian Army Advances to Qahira in the Al-Ghaab Plains