On Monday morning, the Al-Nusra Front (Jabhat Al-Nusra) carried out a series of attacks on the Associations Quarter of the village of Al-Zahra, with the intention to breach this stronghold protected by Hezbollah and the National Defense Forces (NDF). Unable to infiltrate Hezbollah and NDF positions, the Al-Nusra Front began to fire explosive gas canisters in the direction of residential neighborhoods, resulting in severe material damage to numerous apartment complexes and a number of wounded civilians. According to a military source, 21 gas canisters were counted by the residents living in the Associations Quarter.

Earlier today, civilians living in Al-Zahra and Nubl reported multiple sniper shots fired from the Al-Maliyya Highway; this has become prevalent since the Al-Nusra Front entrenched themselves on the outskirts of these 2 villages. At least 2 civilians have been killed and another 3 have been wounded by unidentified snipers near the highway. The Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAF) began to target the outskirts of this area following the reports and they continue to carry out airstrikes on Al-Nusra Front convoys attempting to reinforce their combatants at Al-Zahra and Nubl.

At the Al-‘Amariyya District, the NDF and the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) discovered an Islamic Front (Jabhat Al-Islamiyya) hideout and confronted the armed militants inside. A violent firefight ensued between both parties, resulting in the death of 4 soldiers from the SAA/NDF and 14 militants from the Islamic Front. The hideout was destroyed along with 4 pick-up trucks mounted with 23mm machine guns. A military source added that approximately 65 percent of the Al-‘Amariyya District is under the NDF and SAA’s control.