On Sunday morning in the Dara’a Governorate’s northern countryside, the Syrian Arab Army’s 15th Brigade of the 5th Armored Division – in coordination with the National Defense Forces (NDF) of Izra’a and the 7th Armored Division – launched their first assault along the Sheikh Miskeen-Nawa Road from their positions outside of the strategic city Sheikh Miskeen, striking the Islamist rebels of Jabhat Al-Nusra (Syrian Al-Qaeda group) and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) at the strategic hilltop of Tal Hamad.

Following a series of intense firefights with the aforementioned Islamist rebels, the Syrian Arab Army’s 15th Brigade and their allies imposed fire control over Tal Hamad, leaving only a small pocket of resistance left to clear at the western perimeter of this strategic hilltop located between the cities of Sheikh Miskeen and Nawa.

According to a military source at the 5th Armored Division’s headquarters inside the city of Izra’a in northeastern Dara’a, the Syrian Armed Forces are only a short distance from the 2nd largest city (Nawa) in the province; and if captured, the pro-government forces will have effectively positioned themselves near the Al-Quneitra Governorate’s eastern border.

The Syrian Arab Army’s 15th Brigade is currently on the offensive along two axes in northern Dara’a; this massive assault was planned several months ago by the Central Command of the Syrian Armed Forces, but it has only come to fruition recently.

Currently, the Syrian Arab Army’s 15th Brigade is involved a fierce battle with the Islamist rebels of Jabhat Al-Nusra and the Free Syrian Army at the integral city of Sheikh Miskeen – the pro-government forces control 70-75 percent of the city, leaving only the southern district under the Islamists control.