The Syrian Arab Army’s 47th Brigade of the 11th Tank Division – in coordination with the National Defense Forces (NDF) – have imposed full control over the village of Harbnafsah in the Al-Houla Plains of the Homs Governorate’s northern countryside on Wednesday after a violent battle with the Islamist rebels of Jabhat Al-Nusra (Syrian Al-Qaeda group), the Free Syrian Army (FSA), and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham.

According to a military source that is embedded with the National Defense Forces in northern Homs, the Syrian Arab Army’s 47th Brigade and their allies seized Harbnasfah in the Al-Houla Plains after advancing from their positions along the southern bank of the Orontes River.

The source added that the Syrian Arab Army’s 47th Brigade and their allies also killed 14 enemy combatants from Jabhat Al-Nusra, the Free Syrian Army, and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham, while also capturing 8 militants and confiscating all of the weapons they had in a local depot.

The Syrian Armed Forces are now in position to strike the imperative rebel stronghold of Al-Rastan in the Homs Governorate’s northern countryside; if captured by the pro-government forces, they will have free reign in this part of the province.

Al-Rastan was one of the first cities captured by the Islamist rebels in 2012; it is more valuable to the latter than any other city in the province.