The Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) “Tiger Forces” Brigade – in coordination with the 11th Tank Division and the National Defense Forces (NDF) – has countered the militant attack at the strategic town of Ariha, launching their own offensive at the village of Kafr Najd on Tuesday afternoon.
Following a four hour battle with the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” at Kafr Najd, the SAA’s Tiger Forces and their allies were able to assert fire control over the village, leaving only a small pocket of militant resistance left in the northwestern corner.
Despite the Tiger Forces success northwest of Ariha, the conglomerate of Islamist militias that make-up “Jaysh Al-Fatah” carried out a fierce assault on the town from their positions at Kafr Ata in the east, firing rounds of mortar shells and rockets before they stormed the eastern flank.
Finally, after fierce clashes for over six hours at the eastern flank of Ariha, the militants of Jaysh Al-Fatah pulled back in order to regroup for likely another attack on this town in western Idlib.
The Tiger Forces and their allies continued their assault at the village of Qameenas, where they looked to capture the northern flank from the militants of Jaysh Al-Fatah; however, they were unable to secure this area before nightfall loomed over this village southeast of the provincial capital.
At the Qarmeed Camp (AKA “Brick Factory”), another day concluded with intense fighting between Jaysh Al-Fatah and the NDF at the western sector of this industrial area located east of Al-Mastouma; this large camp holds the key to the Tiger Forces offensive into Idlib City.
The Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAF) continued its bombing campaign of Jabhat Al-Nusra positions near the provincial capital, targeting the villages of Sarmeen, Kafr Jalis, Fayloun, Koreen, Taftanaz, and Ma’arat Misreen on Tuesday.
