Moments ago in the Homs Governorate’s northern countryside, the Syrian Arab Army’s 47th Brigade of the 11th Tank Division – in close coordination with the National Defense Forces (NDF) – began their imperative offensive to capture the strategic town of ‘Aqrab from the Islamist rebels in the Al-Houla Plains.

The news of this offensive at ‘Aqrab comes just 12 hours after the Syrian Armed Forces captured the village of Jarisah, which is located along the northern border of the Al-Rastan Lake.

The town of ‘Aqrab is an Islamist stronghold that is used by the militants of Jabhat Al-Nusra (Syrian Al-Qaeda group) and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) to harass the Syrian Arab Army and their allies inside the Hama Governorate’s southern countryside.

If ‘Aqrab is captured by the Syrian Armed Forces; this will create a domino effect in both the Al-Houla and Al-Rastan Plains, as this town is imperative to the Islamist defenses.

It is very unlikely that the Syrian Armed Forces will be able to coast through this town and then reach the Islamist stronghold of Al-Rastan; however, they do currently possess the high ground and the air force needed to fracture Jabhat Al-Nusra’s frontline defenses in order to capture this town.