The conglomerate of Islamist forces led by Harakat ‘Ahrar Al-Sham and Jund Al-Aqsa stormed Jisr Al-Shughour and the Brick Factory at Al-Mastouma on Wednesday, attempting to break-through the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) defenses in order to capture these government strongholds in the Idlib Governorate.
However, the SAA’s 87th Brigade and the National Defense Forces (NDF) were unwilling to yield an inch of territory to the Islamist militants at Jisr Al-Shughour, repelling all infiltration attempts by the enemy combatants, including the fierce assault by Harakat ‘Ahrar Al-Sham at the Al-Muyy checkpoint in the eastern part of the city.
With Jisr Al-Shughour under control, the NDF fended off a powerful assault by the Islamist forces on the eastern flank of the Brick Factory, despite claims by rebel social media activists about their alleged entry into this area located directly east of Al-Mastouma.
A source from the NDF confirmed that the Brick Factory is completely under their control and further added that over two dozen enemy combatants were killed before the Islamist militants withdrew their attack when nightfall descended upon the Idlib Governorate.
South of Al-Mastouma, the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” attempted to break into the city of Ariha for the second time this week; however, they were repelled once again and forced to withdraw to the village of Kafr Lata.
The second day of the Islamist offensive has begun in Idlib, with the latter continuing where they left off at Jisr Al-Shughour – fighting has only been reported at the Al-Muyy checkpoint in the eastern part of the city.
More to come…
