The Syrian Arab Army’s 5th Armored and 7th Mechanized Divisions – alongside the National Defense Forces (NDF) from the cities of Izra’a (northeastern Dara’a) and Khan Arnabeh (Al-Quenitra Governorate) have begun to amass around the Dara’a Governorate’s northern countryside in preparation for their highly anticipated offensive that will target the “Dara’a Triangle.”

Earlier today, the Syrian Arab Air Force’s (SAAF) fighter jets pounded the rebel-held cities of Kafr Shamis, Kafr Nissaj, Tal Al-Harrah, and ‘Aqrabah inside the Dara’a Triangle in order to weaken the Free Syrian Army’s defenses, as several units from the Syrian Arab Army’s 5th and 7th Divisions pour into the area to prepare for their assault of the aforementioned cities.

The Dara’a Triangle consists of roughly 60km of territory that is situated just south of the Rif Dimashq Governorate’s “West Ghouta” region and just east of Nabi’ Al-Sakhar – a large city located in the Al-Quneitra Governorate’s eastern countryside; this vast area of the Dara’a Governorate was lost to the Free Syrian Army’s 1st Brigade in the Spring months of 2014.

The main objective of this Dara’a Triangle offensive is to recapture the imperative city of Tal Al-Harrah; if the Syrian Armed Forces are able to reclaim this rugged area, they will have access to the Dara’a-Quneitra border and the several roads that lead to the cities of Jasseem, Al-Quneitra City, Nabi’ Al-Sakhar, and Inkhil.

Currently, the start date of this offensive is tentative; it has not been announced by the Syrian Armed Forces yet, but it is expected to be launched in the coming weeks.