The Abu Dhuhour Airbase has been under siege by the Islamic Front’s largest militia, “Harakat ‘Ahrar Al-Sham” (Liberators of the Levant Movement), and the Al-Qaeda linked Al-Nusra Front (Jabhat Al-Nusra) for the last 6 days, as they attempt to breach the large airport’s heavily fortified barricades in the province of Idlib.

Earlier today, ‘Ahrar Al-Sham and the Al-Nusra Front targeted the western perimeter of the Abu Dhuhour Airbase, firing a multitude of artillery shells and rockets at the western walls. For 8 straight hours, the tumultuous sound of heavy artillery could be heard from neighboring villages, while an Al-Nusra Front contingent attempted to infiltrate the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) defenses; it was later repelled by the latter.

Following the commencement of firefights near Abu Dhuhour Airbase, a Syrian military source reported to Al-Masdar News that the airport is 100% under Syrian Arab Army control. The source further added that the SAA controls 15 square kilometers of territory around the base and that the army has yet to lose ground to the enemy combatants.

At least 100 Al-Nusra Front and Harakat ‘Ahrar Al-Dham fighters have been killed at Abu Dhuhour Airbase, including 2 foreign fighters: “Abu Al-Dahdaah Al-Masri” (Egpytian) and Mohammad Al-Doussari (Saudi). The SAA has suffered 11 casualties at the Abu Dhuhour Airbase; however, their assistance from the Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAF) has dissipated the number of firefights.

Identified Islamic Front and Jabhat Al-Nusra Front fighters killed:

1. Abu Al-Dahdaah Al-Masri (Egyptian)

2. Mohammad Al-Doussari (Saudi)

3. Mohammad Al-Daher

4. Hussein Al-Ahmad

5. Haamid ‘Abdel-Kareem Al-Kaamal

6. Ibrahim Al-Bassaass

7. Mohammad Jameel Al-Jarbaa

8. Sha’eer Sameessim

9. Hammoud Abu Mou’awiyya