Earlier today in the Latakia Governorate’s northeastern countryside, the Islamist rebels of Jabhat Al-Nusra (Syrian Al-Qaeda group) and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) launched a large-scale counter-offensive at the Turkmen Mountains (Jabal Al-Turkmen) in order to recapture the territory they lost to the Syrian Armed Forces over the last three weeks.

The Islamist rebels of Jabhat Al-Nusra and the Free Syrian Army began their assault at the village of ‘Ateiri near the Turkish border, where they were confronted by a large force from the National Defense Forces (NDF) and the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP).

Moments after launching this assault on ‘Ateiri, the Islamist rebel media declared the aforementioned village under their full control after a short battle with the pro-government forces; this assault would allegedly allow them to begin their massive counter-attack on Jabal Al-Zahiya, which is located to the west of ‘Ateiri and just south of the Turkish border with the Latakia Governorate.

As it turned out, the Islamist rebels were unprepared for the Syrian Armed Forces’ stiff defenses in Jabal Al-Zawiyah; this poor calculation cost Jabhat Al-Nusra and the Free Syrian Army’s “1st Coastal Brigade” several fighters after their failed infiltration attempt.

According to a military source in northern Latakia, the Islamist rebels suffered over 30 casualties during their failed assault on Jabal Al-Zawiya, marking the conclusion of one of Latakia’s bloodiest battles this month.