Moments ago inside the Dara’a Governorate’s northern countryside, a large convoy of reinforcements from the headquarters of the Syrian Arab Army’s 5th Armored Division have arrived to the small village of Dilli in order to assist the SAA’s 15th Brigade that is currently attacking the strategic city of Sheikh Miskeen.

Yesterday, the Syrian Arab Army’s 15th Brigade of the 5th Armored Division – in coordination with the National Defense Forces (NDF) of Izra’a – launched a powerful assault on the Islamist rebel defenses at Sheikh Miskeen; this resulted in a series of intense firefights throughout most of the day and into the twilight hours.

Despite the size of the assault, the Syrian Armed Forces were repelled by the Free Syrian Army’s “Southern Front Brigades” at the eastern district of Sheikh Miskeen; however, not before they each sustained heavy casualties during the long battle for control of this city in Daraa’s northern countryside.

Sheikh Miskeen is strategically located near the second largest city (Nawa) in northern Dara’a; it is also the gateway to both the West Ghouta of the Rif Dimashq Governorate and the second most important highway that leads to the provincial capital.

Last year, the Syrian Armed Forces attempted to capture Sheikh Miskeen from the Islamist rebels, but they were later defeated by the Free Syrian Army before they withdrew from the city of Nawa.