On Tuesday morning, the Syrian Arab Army’s 20th and 128th Brigades of the 1st Armored Division – in coordination with Hezbollah and the National Defense Forces (NDF) – launched another successful assault at the western hills of the Qalamoun Mountains, killing over 20 enemy combatants from the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra”, while asserting control over three hills inbetween Jaroud ‘Arsal (Lebanon) and Jaroud Faleeta (Syria).
The Syrian Armed Forces and Hezbollah launched this assault on Jabhat Al-Nusra after they repelled the latter’s attack on Tal Thaljah (located east of Tal Al-Moussa); this failed infiltration attempt by the Al-Qaeda affiliated group opened a path for the Lebanese Resistance and the SAA’s 20th Brigade to storm the hilltops overlooking the vast Syrian border with Lebanon and take control of these integral positions.
Following their successful assault on the militants from Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah crossed the border from Jaroud Faleeta into Jaroud ‘Arsal in order to capture Jabhat Al-Nusra’s stronghold they use to launch attacks on the Syrian Armed Forces and the Lebanese Resistance in the Qalamoun Mountains.
With Hezbollah in prime position to besiege the imperative Lebanese border district of ‘Arsal in the Beqa’a Governorate, many Lebanese observers cautiously await the turmoil that might arise due to the sectarian tensions and political reprisals from the opponents of the Lebanese Resistance organization within the country.