The Syrian Arab Army’s 63rd Brigade of the 4th Mechanized Division and Hezbollah surprised the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” with vicious ambush on Barada Street, killing over 30 enemy combatants from the aforementioned Islamist group inside the resort city of Al-Zabadani on Wednesday morning.

Following their ambush of Jabhat Al-Nusra, the Syrian Armed Forces and Hezbollah pressed the Islamist rebel contingents to the east of Barada St., where they attempted to push closer to Al-Zabadani’s downtown area.

On the other-side of Al-Zabadani, the Syrian Armed Forces and Hezbollah continued their march along Jamal ‘Abdel-Nasser Street, capturing more buildings near the Al-Zabadani Bus Station after fierce clashes with Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and the Free Syrian Army’s “Liwaa Suqour Al-Zabadani” (Al-Zabadani Hawks Brigade).

Meanwhile, the Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAF) launched over 40 airstrikes on Wednesday, targeting Jabhat Al-Nusra’s movements around southern Al-Zabadani and the nearby town of Madaya.

As the Syrian Armed Forces and Hezbollah resume their full-scale offensive of Al-Zabadani, the Islamist rebel groups outside of the city have issued many threats, including their continued reprisal on the predominately Shia towns of Al-Fou’aa and Kafraya in the Idlib Governorate.

Despite these threats, Hezbollah and the Syrian Armed Forces have remained undeterred, as they are on the brink of entering the downtown area of Al-Zabadani.