ISIL Loses More Ground at Jabal Al-Sha’ar; SAA Captures Strategic Hill

On Tuesday morning, the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) 18th Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division attacked Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIL) positions at Khirbet Al-Tiyaas, killing scores of militants before taking full control of this area northeast of the Teefour (T4) Airbase. With the capture of Khirbet Al-Tiyaas, the SAA has now created a buffer between the ISIS militants at Al-Sha’ar Gas Fields and the Teefour (T4) Airbase 25km away.

Continuing their success from the morning, the 18th Brigade stormed the ISIL-controlled, “Tal Seereetel” (var. SyriaTel Hill), declaring the hill under SAA control around 1:15 P.M. Damascus Time after fierce clashes since the morning. According to a military source, the Syrian Army is now on the outskirts of Al-Sha’ar Gas Fields, but they have yet to besiege the recently captured area. The 18th Brigade is backed by National Defense Forces (NDF) and Liwaa Suqour Al-Sahara’a (SAA Special Forces) in Jabal Al-Sha’ar – the latter is pictured above.

Identified ISIL fighters killed in Jabal Al-Sha’ar:

1. Ahmad Al-Shahaabi (Abu Ri’ad)
2. Hamada Mohammad Khayraldeen Al-Khateeb
3. Zuheir Salayma Al-Ahmad
4. Ahmad Mahmoud Sweiss
5. Sultan ‘Ibrahim Al-‘Abeed
6. Ameen Majd Al-Hosni
7. ‘Umar Jamaal Abu Anwar