On Friday morning, Hezbollah – in coordination with the Syrian Arab Army’s 1st Armored Division and the National Defense Forces (NDF) – entered the final stage of this offensive in the Qalamoun Mountains, as they successfully cutoff the militants from the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” from their strategic supply route in the ‘Arsal District of the Baqa’a Governorate.
Hezbollah’s main attack on Friday morning came from the Tal Al-Moussa area, where they targeted Jabhat Al-Nusra’s primary border-crossing from Jaroud ‘Arsal (Lebanon) into Ras Al-Marra (Syria); this resulted in fierce clashes between the two parties at around 7:15 A.M. Damascus Time.
As Hezbollah combed through the area, the SAA’s 1st Armored Division and the NDF attacked a convoy of Jabhat Al-Nusra reinforcements coming from the Jubbah Heights; this assault allowed Hezbollah enough time to clear the surrounding area and take full control of the Jaroud ‘Arsal-Ras Al-Marry border crossing.
With Hezbollah’s success at the border of Lebanon and Syria, the militants from Jabhat Al-Nusra have found themselves in a very difficult predicament, as the Lebanese Resistance force prepares for their final assault at the southwestern sector of Ras Al-Marra and the rugged landscape at Jubbah Heights in the western part of the Qalalmoun Mountains.
In addition to their success at the border-crossing, Hezbollah and the SAA’s 1st Armored Division took full control of Jabal Barouh, killing 28 enemy combatants from Jabhat Al-Nusra, while also confiscating their heavy weaponry.