The militants from Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham have recently intensified their attack on the Syrian Government stronghold of Ariha, striking the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and National Defense Forces (NDF) at the imperative hills of Tal Ma’ar Tab’i and Tal SyrianTel which overlook this city in the Idlib Governorate.

With the SAA’s 87th Brigade of the 11th Tank Division recapturing the Al-Ghaab Plains, the militants from Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham have concentrated their attention on the Jisr Al-Shughour National Hospital and the town of Ariha, where they hope to cutoff the Syrian Government’s final supply route to the province.

Three days after the SAA captured Tal SyrianTel, the militants from Ahrar Al-Sham were successful in retaking this imperative hill near Tal Ma’ar Tab’i, pushing the 87th Brigade to east towards the military checkpoints outside of Ariha.

Nearby Tal SyrianTel, the SAA’s 87th Brigade was successful in repelling the Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham attack on Tal Ma’ar Tab’i, killing over 20 militants on the eastern flank of this hill; this is the last hill before reaching the city of Ariha and the most strategic point for all parties involved.

At the Jisr Shughour National Hospital, the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” – in coordination with Jaysh Al-Muhajireen and Ajnad Al-Sham – attempted to infiltrate the besieged Syrian Army’s positions at this facility; however, they were repelled at the southern flank after sustaining significant casualties during their charge.

Southeast of the Jisr Al-Shughour National Hospital, the SAA’s Tiger Forces continued their assault on the militants from Jabhat Al-Nusra at the Sugar Factory, taking complete control of the southern and eastern perimeters before nightfall on Monday.

Fierce clashes were also reported at the Al-Mastouma Orchards, where Jabhat Al-Nusra and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham attempted to infiltrate into after the SAA’s Tiger Forces took complete control of this rugged area – the breach attempt was unsuccessful.

East of Al-Mastouma, firefights between the NDF and Jabhat Al-Nusra militants continued at Tal Masayabeen, as both parties exchanged rounds of gunfire and mortar shells in order to advance their positions at this integral hill between Al-Mastouma and the Qarmeed Camp.