According to a military source in Syria, the Syrian Arab Army’s Special Forces unit – “Liwaa Al-Qalb Al-Saqour Sahra’a” (Desert Hawks) – has been reassigned to the Dara’a Governorate, where they will assist the 5th and 7th Divisions at the city of Sheikh Miskeen. The Desert Falcons are led by Colonel Mohammad Jaber and the Tiger Forces commander, Colonel Suheil Al-Hassan (Al-Nimr); they are expected to arrive in the coming days to reinforce the 12th Brigade (5th Division) in the East District of Shiekh Miskeen.

While the embattled SAA soldiers await the arrival of reinforcements, their battle against Jabhat Al-Nusra in the East District of Sheikh Miskeen continues. The violence has not dissipated since the withdrawal of SAA contingents in the city of Nawa; however, the majority of firefights have been reported in the besieged South District, where the 69th (7th Division) and 175th (5th Division) Brigades have countered Jabhat Al-Nusra’s short offensive yesterday.

Identified Jabhat Al-Nusra fighters killed at Sheikh Miskeen:

1. Rami Fouad Al-Khayouti

2. Yaman Hussein Al-Qassim

3. Aslan Qassim Al-Najar

4. Mohammad ‘Aamar ‘Amareen

5. Ahmad ‘Aamar ‘Amareen

6. Mohammad Badr Al-Sawa’eh

7. ‘Imraan Mahmoud Al-Salaameh

8. Moussa Mahmoud Al-Salaameh

9. ‘Ali Mohammad Mahmoud Al-Salaameh

10. Saamir Mohammad Al-Qateefaan

11. ‘Ali ‘Abdel-Kareem Abu Saafi

12. Mahmoud Qassim Al-Deeri

13. Qassim Taraad

Yesterday, the SAA killed a notorious Jabhat Al-Nusra fighter at the city of Sheikh Miskeen; the identified man was Ahmad Al-Muslimiyya (AKA “Abu Mohammad Al-Souri”) – a veteran field commander that fought with Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. Al-Muslimiyya returned to Syria following the eruption of violence that later engulfed most of the country.

North of the Sweida Governorate, the SAA has asserted full control over the Damascus-Baghdad Road near Tal Safa in the Rif Dimashq Governorate after violent clashes with members of Jabhat Al-Nusra. A source stated that the area is now clear and the highway has been reopened to the public.