For the last three days in the Aleppo Governorate’s southern countryside, the Syrian Arab Army’s elite 4th Mechanized Division, Hezbollah and the Iraqi paramilitary group “Harakat Al-Nujaba” have been on the defensive against the Islamist rebels of Jabhat Al-Nusra (Syrian Al-Qaeda group), Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham, and Harakat Nouriddeen Al-Zinki.

However, this changed on Wednesday morning when Hezbollah and Harakat Al-Nujaba launched a massive counter-offensive from their positions at Burnah, Al-Zeitan, and Al-Qal’ajiyah in order to target the strategic towns of Al-Zorba, Khan Touman, and Al-Baraoum that are situated along the vast Aleppo-Damascus Highway (M-5 Highway).

Hezbollah and Harakat Al-Nujaba have already started this offensive, striking the southern axis of Khan Touman, while a brigade from the 4th Mechanized Division, the National Defense Forces (NDF), and Kataebat Al-Ba’ath (Al-Ba’ath Battalions) struck the towns of Al-Zorba and Al-Barqoum.

Currently, there have been no reported gains by any party involved in this offensive; however, preliminary reports confirm a large number of dead on both sides as they continue to fight for control of this volatile area in the Aleppo Governorate’s southern countryside.

The main objective for this offensive is to cut-off the enemy’s main supply route along the Aleppo-Damascus Highway; if it is cut-off, the Islamists will be without a supply line from Idlib to Aleppo.