On Saturday, the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” attempted to infiltrate into the predominately Armenian town of Kassab, capturing some territory at Jabal Al-Nisr near the hill at Point 45; however, fighting dissipated by nightfall and the militant group was forced to retreat.

The Jabhat Al-Nusra assault was repelled on Saturday; however, they resumed their offensive at the village of Nabi’ Al-Mir near the Turkish border, attacking the National Defense Forces (NDF), Mouqawama Souri (Syrian Resistance) and Syrian Arab Army (SAA) from the eastern flank towards Kassab.

After withstanding the second day of Jabhat Al-Nusra’s offensive, the NDF and SAA countered the militant group’s assault with an attack of their own, pushing their way back into the village of Nabi’ Al-Mir.

The successful forestallment of Jabhat Al-Nusra and their allies at Nabi’ Al-Mir has paid dividends for the SAA and NDF, as they were able to secure the entire territory around the town of Kassab, while also launching a counter-offensive at this area in northern Latakia.

According to a military source in Kassab, the NDF and SAA killed over 40 militants from Jabhat Al-Nusra on Sunday, including their leader “Nizar Turkman” at Nabi’ Al-Mir; meanwhile, the NDF and SAA lost a total of 22 fighters in the last two days.