It has been a long and arduous journey for the Syrian Arab Army’s 4th Mechanized Division and Hezbollah in southern Aleppo, but it appears their persistency and patience has officially paid off, as they captured the eastern entrance of Al-Hadher after intense firefights with the Islamist rebels from Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham, Harakat Nouriddeen Al-Zinki, Liwaa Suqour Al-Sham, and the Free Syrian Army (FSA).

Moments ago, field sources from the National Defense Forces (NDF) of Aleppo reported to Al-Masdar News that the eastern entrance to the rebel stronghold of Al-Hadher was under the control of the Syrian Arab Army’s 4th Mechanized Division and Hezbollah – they further added that fierce clashes are taking place between the two opposing parties inside this strategic town.

Should the Syrian Arab Army’s 4th Mechanized Division and Hezbollah capture this strategic town, they will be within 10km of the Idlib Governorate’s border with the Aleppo Governorate; this would be huge for the Syrian Armed Forces, as they have not seen the northeastern border of Idlib since the large-scale rebel offensive in 2012 that concluded with a massive withdrawal for the pro-government forces.

Fighting alongside the Syrian Arab Army and Hezbollah are several Iraqi paramilitary units, Iranian-Afghani paramilitary units, and the National Defense Forces of Aleppo City; these foreign paramilitary units include the following: Kata’eb Hezbollah, Firqa Fatayyemoun, Liwaa Abu Fadl Al-‘Abbas, and Harakat Al-Nujaba.

Meanwhile, north of Al-Hadher, the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” and their allies from the Free Syrian Army and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham are attempting to alleviate the pressure on their forces inside the town of Al-Hadher by storming the Syrian Arab Army’s defenses at Tal Huwayz – so far, only violent firefights reported, no gains.