Earlier today, combined rebel forces of Ahrar ash-Sham, Jabhat al-Nusra and a few factions of the Free Syrian Army launched a huge offensive against ISIS in the southwestern parts of the Daraa governorate.
According to Al-Masdar intel, rebels were able to capture the villages of Sheikh Saad, Jaleen, al-Tairah, Nah and Al-A’jami while also subsequently breaking the siege on rebel fighters held up at Hayt village. This happened as rebel fighters stormed ISIS positions from the early morning throughout the afternoon of today.
Not long ago, two powerful Daraa-based rebel groups, namely the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade and the Islamic Muthanna Movement, defected from the Syrian Opposition and gave bay’ah (showed allegiance) to the Islamic State’s leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Thus, ISIS was spawned from rebel ranks at the very gates of Israel. Soon after, fighters loyal to the Islamic State were quick to turn on their former rebel allies inside the Daraa governorate, thereby making considerable gains over the past weeks.
During today’s rebel offensive, dozens of ISIS fighters were reportedly killed while Muhammad Refa`ie (Commander of the Islamic Muthanna Movement) was also left dead on the battle. The specific death toll is not however known to Al-Masdar News.
Nevertheless, clashes are still ongoing on the outskirts of Sahm al-joulan and Taseel.
For the moment, rebels inside the Daraa governorate seem to have the upper hand. However, ISIS fighters will likely fight to their last breath before surrendering their areas in southern Syria.
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