The Syrian Arab Army’s 103rd Brigade of the Republican Guard has struck again in the Latakia Governorate’s northern countryside, capturing several farms and hilltops to the north of Jabal Al-Nuba (Al-Nuba Mountains) after an intense battle with the Islamist rebels of Jabhat Al-Nusra (Syrian Al-Qaeda group) and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) on Christmas day.

According to a military source in the Latakia Governorate, the Syrian Arab Army’s 103rd Brigade – in coordination with the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP), the National Defense Forces (NDF) of Latakia City, and the Syrian Resistance – imposed full control over the hilltop villages of Talat Al-Awda, and Katf Al-Harami after they seized the farms situated to the north of Jabal Al-Nuba.

The military source added that at least 20 enemy combatants were killed and several others from Jabhat Al-Nusra and the Free Syrian Army were wounded during the Syrian Armed Forces’ military operations in the Latakia Governorate’s northern countryside.

As a result of this military operation on Christmas day, the Syrian Arab Army’s 103rd Brigade have now advanced to the western flank of Salma, where they will continue to push north in order to eventually encircle this strategic rebel stronghold that is located at the highest peak in the Kurdish Mountains (Jabal Al-Akrad).