The strategic village of Kinsibba has been liberated by the Syrian Arab Army’s 103rd Brigade (commandos) of the Republican Guard and their allies; however, the battle for northeastern Latakia is not quite over.

While the rebel stronghold of Kinsibba is the gateway to the imperative city of Jisr Al-Shughour in the Idlib Governorate’s northwestern countryside; its capture does not end the rebel presence in Latakia.

In fact, the extremist rebels of Jabhat Al-Nusra (Syrian Al-Qaeda group), Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham, and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) still have the ability to strike cities like Qurdaha and Slunfeh because they are still sitting atop of Kabani.

Kabani is a small village inside the Latakia Governorate that overlooks the Al-Ghaab Plains; it is also one of the highest points in Jabal Al-Akrad (Kurdish Mountains).

If the Syrian Armed Forces plan on attacking the integral town of Al-Sirmaniyah in the near future, they will need to be in full control of Kabani to do so.

Yes, Jisr Al-Shughour is not the first target for the Syrian Armed Forces once the Latakia Governorate is completely under their control; it is the government’s second target after Al-Sirmaniyah.

As long as the extremist rebels control the village of Al-Sirmaniyah, they can always launch attacks on their positions near Jisr Al-Shughour and even prevent the government forces from really threatening the city.

This is one of the reasons why Kabani is an imperative military endeavor for the Syrian Arab Army’s Central Command.

In the coming weeks, the Syrian Armed Forces will attack Kabani and the result of this battle will hold the fate of Al-Sirmaniyah and ultimately Jisr Al-Shughour.