On Thursday morning, Hezbollah – in coordination with the Syrian Arab Army’s 20th and 128th Brigades of the 1st Armored Division – took control of more territory in the Qalamoun Mountains of Syria, as the militants from the Syrian Al-Qaeda organization “Jabhat Al-Nusra” and their allies were dealt another significant blow on this imperative front.
The Lebanese Resistance began their assault on the militants from Jabhat Al-Nusra at 6:45 A.M. (Damascus Time), when soldiers from Hezbollah stormed the latter’s defensive positions at the Al-Darab Border-Crossing from Syria, killing 19 enemy combatants before they were able to seize full control of the border checkpoint; this was followed up with Hezbollah’s capture of Wadi Al-Darab just one hour later.
With their entry into the ‘Arsal Barrens, Hezbollah did not waste any time regaining Lebanese territory from the Al-Qaeda militants occupying it: the Lebanese Resistance soldiers launched a powerful assault on the Jabhat Al-Nusra combatants at the Al-Rahwa Checkpoint, resulting in their capture of this integral barrier located a few kilometers away from ‘Arsal’s city limits.
For two years, Lebanese politicians have warned Hezbollah about crossing into the predominately Sunni District of ‘Arsal; however, the constant instability and terrorism deriving from this area of Lebanon has forced the Lebanese Resistance to rid the area of the militants from Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS).
Thus far, Hezbollah and the Syrian Armed Forces have taken control of 90% of the eastern slopes in the Qalamoun Mountains; this new assault on the western slopes will solely focus on Lebanon and will not include the Syrian Armed Forces.
