The imperative village of Al-Lataminah is Jabhat Al-Nusra’s (var. Al-Nusra Front) last stronghold in the Hama Governorate; its proximity to the besieged city of Kafr Zita makes it vital to the Syrian Arab Army’s Central Command. According to a military source, Jabhat Al-Nusra has begun to withdraw forces in this village after the sudden loss of the critical city of Morek – located northeast of Al-Lataminah. Jabhat Al-Nusra began an offensive in west Hama in July; however, the attack was forestalled and countered by Syrian Arab Army’s 11th Tank Division and National Defense Forces (NDF).

While Jabhat Al-Nusra is facing the end of military operations in the Hama Governorate, the Islamic Front (Jabhat Al-Islamiyya) continues to combat the SAA and NDF in northern part of the province. Despite their resistance, the Islamic Front completely withdrew from the village of Al-Buwayda in northern Hama after fierce firefights with the ensuing NDF. According to a military source, approximately 20 militants were killed before their subsequent retreat.

Jabhat Al-Nusra received more bad news in the Hama Governorate today; one of the leaders of their military contingents was killed at a battle in the village of Jabeen in west Hama. The leader of the Jabhat Al- Nusra brigade known as “Liwaa Jund Al-Rahman”, Ja’arab Al-Heeyani, was killed earlier today during a firefight with the NDF. Al-Heeyani was considered one of Jabhat Al-Nusra’s most premier field commanders and a personal confidant of Abu Mohammad Al-Jolani (the leader of Jabhat Al-Nusra.