The Syrian Arab Army’s “Tiger Forces” – in coordination with the National Defense Forces (NDF) and the 87th Brigade of 11th Tank Division – have continued their push towards the integral city of Jisr Al-Shughour, where they look to lift the one month long siege of the National Hospital by the militants from the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra.”

Following their capture of Al-Mushrafat near the village of Frikka, the SAA’s Tiger Forces took control of the strategic hills at Tal Quntaar and Tal Qurtal after Jabhat Al-Nusra, Jund Al-‘Aqsa, and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham countered the Syrian Armed Forces success in southern Jisr Al-Shughour last weekend.

Meanwhile, southwest of Jisr Al-Shughour, the 87th Brigade and the NDF launched an attack on the militants from Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and Jabhat Al-Nusra, as they attempted to advance into the village of Ishtabraq from nearby Al-Ghaniyah; however, the Syrian Armed Forces are still 1 km away from their destination.

Ishtabraq is strategically located 2 km away from the Jisr Al-Shughour National Hospital and with the facility falling apart; it does not leave the Syrian Armed Forces much time to lift the Jabhat Al-Nusra siege on the building.

Jabhat Al-Nusra and Ajnad Al-Sham launched another powerful assault on the Jisr Al-Shughour National Hospital, where they stormed the southern and western flanks, infiltrating the Syrian Arab Army’s defensive barriers before they were finally forced to withdraw due to the Syrian Arab Air Force’s (SAAF) multiple airstrikes on their positions.

The Syrian Armed Forces best chance to reach the Jisr Shughour National Hospital is from their current positions at the Sugar Factory; but, despite being 850 meters from the city itself, the Tiger Forces are still 2 km from the southeast perimeter of the main facility.