At 8:45 P.M. Damascus Time on Friday, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) captured the village of ‘Umm Ramaan from Jabhat Al-Nusra (Al-Nusra Front) fighters; this victory comes 2 days after the SAA secured the northern outskirts of Tal Safa on the border of the Rif Dimashq and Sweida Governorates. ‘Umm Ramaan is strategic to the SAA due to its proximity to the Damascus-Baghdad International Highway – the SAA lost control of this motorway for a short duration, but has since recaptured all territory lost.

Earlier today, Jabhat Al-Nusra suffered a major loss to their central command in the Qalamoun Mountains after their field commander, “Abu Taha’”, was killed along with 3 of his aides by the SAA near the village of Faleeta. Abu Taha’s death comes 2 days after the SAA killed 2 other field commanders from Jabhat Al-Nusra: “Abu Talal” and “Abu ‘Ali ‘Amoun”.

Despite claims by Syrian Opposition Facebook pages, a Syrian military source has confirmed that Radar Hill, Liwaa 128 Base, and Al-Sirateel are under Syrian Arab Army control in the Qalamoun Mountains. Militants from Jabhat Al-Nusra and ‘Ahrar Al-Sham attacked an SAA garrison at Radar Hill; however, they were forestalled after their initial breach. Following the news of their initial infiltration, Syrian Opposition sources began to claim Al-Sirateel and Liwaa 128 Base also fell to the militants; this turned out to be false.