Moments ago, the Syrian Arab Army’s 4th Mechanized Division – in coordination with Hezbollah, the National Defense Forces (NDF), Kataebat Al-Ba’ath (Al-Ba’ath Battalions), and Harakat Al-Nujaba (Iraqi paramilitary) – launched a powerful attack at the imperative hilltop of Tal SyriaTel near the Aleppo-Damascus International Highway (M-5 Highway), targeting the defensive positions of the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra”, the Free Syrian Army (FSA), Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham, and Liwaa Suqour Al-Sham.

Following a series of intense firefights between the two opposing sides, the Syrian Armed Forces and the Lebanese Resistance took full control of Tal SyriaTel after killing over 20 enemy combatants from Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham, Jabhat Al-Nusra, the Free Syrian Army, and Liwaa Suqour Al-Sham; this imperative hilltop overlooks the strategic city of Khan Touman that is situated east of the Aleppo-Damascus International Highway.

The Syrian Armed Forces and Lebanese Resistance are currently attacking the Islamist rebels of Jabhat Al-Nusra and Suqour Al-Sham between the two towns of Abtayn and Al-Shughaydilah; this has been the location of some of the most intense fighting in the Aleppo Governorate’s southern countryside.

If the Syrian Armed Forces and Lebanese Resistance are able to capture the integral town of Al-Shughaydilah, they will be within reach of the rebel-stronghold of Al-Hadhir; however, the aforementioned town is located less than 15km away from the Idlib Governorate, which will help the Islamist rebels reinforce their positions.

On Saturday, the Islamist rebels were able to fend-off the advancing fighters from the National Defense Forces at Al-Shughaydilah, but if they do not retake Abtayn soon, the town will likely fall to the pro-government forces.