It has been a long 30 days for the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” and their allies from Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and the Free Syrian Army’s “Liwaa Suqour Al-Zabadani” (Al-Zabadani Hawks Brigade) inside the resort-city of Al-Zabadani, as the Syrian Arab Army’s 63rd Brigade of the 4th Mechanized Division and Hezbollah prepare for their final assault.
On Tuesday, things did not appear to get any better for Jabhat Al-Nusra and company, as the SAA’s 63rd Brigade and Hezbollah overwhelmed the Islamist rebels with brute force at the western perimeter of Al-Zabadani’s downtown area.
With the Hikmat District under their full control, the Syrian Armed Forces and the Lebanese Resistance advanced to the Al-Manshiyah cross section, where they have now entrenched themselves around this strategically located pathway near the city-center of Al-Zabadani.
Meanwhile, in the Mahata District of east Al-Zabadani, the Syrian Armed Forces and Hezbollah repelled a desperate attempt by Jabhat Al-Nusra and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham to break-away from the city-center and into the eastern neighborhoods.
As Hezbollah and the SAA’s 63rd Brigade prepare for their final assault in Al-Zabadani, Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham are attempting to negotiate through a intermediary in the Lebanese Government to secure a withdrawal for their fighters in exchange for a safe passage given to the 30,000 civilians inside the towns of Al-Fou’aa and Kafraya.
