Immediately after the militants from the Syrian Al-Qaeda branch “Jabhat Al-Nusra” detonated their explosives inside a tunnel near the Air Force Intelligence building in the Al-Zahra Association Quarter, fierce clashes began between the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and the latter at the western barricade.

Despite claims that Jabhat Al-Nusra captured the AFI building, a military source revealed that the latter did not bypass the exterior fence; thus, disproving this alleged claim.

Syrian TV journalist Shadi Hulwe reported that the SAA had complete control of the facility, with no firefights reported after 9:30 P.M. Damascus Time.

The SAA reported 6 casualties during the firefights with Jabhat Al-Nusra at the AFI building; meanwhile, Jabhat Al-Nusra suffered 21 killed-in-action (KIA) and a high number of wounded fighters that could not be confirmed.