On Sunday, the Syrian Arab Army’s “Tiger Forces” – in coordination with the National Defense Forces (NDF) and the 87th Brigade of the 11th Tank Division – continued their relentless assault on the militants from the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” near Jisr Al-Shughour, pushing their way to the outskirts of this strategic city in west Idlib.
The Tiger Forces and their allies began their successful advance towards Jisr Shughour on Saturday, when they overwhelmed the militants from Jabhat Al-Nusra and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham at Tal Sheikh Al-Khataab, taking control of this vital hill overlooking parts of the ‘Ayn Al-Souda District at the outskirts of Jisr Al-Shughour.
After taking control of Tal Sheikh Al-Khataab east of Jisr Al-Shughour, the Tiger Forces and their allies advanced to Al-Mushayrafat located north of Frikka, where they once again overwhelmed the militants from Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham with their heavy weaponry and airstrikes from the Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAF), capturing the village after fierce firefights with the enemy combatants.
As of Sunday night, the Syrian Armed Forces are now in complete control of Al-Mushayrafat, the Sugar Factory, and Tal Sheikh Al-Khataab; this comes two days after the Syrian President – Dr. Bashar Al-Assad – gave a speech on Syria’s Martyrs’ Day, where he affirmed the government’s intentions to recapture Jisr Al-Shughour.
For the eighth straight day, the militants from Jabhat Al-Nusra and Jund Al-Aqsa stormed the Jisr Al-Shughour National Hospital at the western and southern flanks; however, they were unable to infiltrate past the SAA’s defenses.
The Jisr Al-Shughour National Hospital’s decrepit structure, due to the constant attacks by Jabhat Al-Nusra has left the situation for the soldiers protecting the facility in dire need of reinforcements and an escape route, as the building is bound to collapse in the next few days.
