Breaking: Syrian Army and Hezbollah Capture Jabal Shameesah in the Qalamoun

The Syrian Arab Army’s 20th Brigade of the 1st Armored Division – in coordination with Hezbollah and the National Defense Forces (NDF) – has taken complete control of Jabal Shameesah located in the western part of the Qalamoun Mountains after fierce firefights with the militants from the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” on Wednesday morning.

Following the capture of Jabal Shameesah on Wednesday morning, Hezbollah carried out a lone assault on the enemy combatants from Jabhat Al-Nusra at Qurnah Al-Taweel, Qurnah Al-Mesh, and ‘Aqabah Al-Fassikh; this resulted in the capture of these hills located at the village of Faleeta in the Qalamoun Mountains.

In addition to the capture of these hills, Hezbollah also destroyed four armored vehicles – including a BMP – and killed over 20 armed militants during their assault on southern Faleeta; this attack comes one day after the Lebanese Resistance force – in coordination with the Syrian Armed Forces – was able to capture the Faleeta Barrens and the Jaroud ‘Arsal-Jaroud Faleeta border-crossing into Lebanon from Syria.

Firefights are still ongoing between Hezbollah and Jabhat Al-Nusra in southern Faleeta; however, the Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAF) has begun their aerial bombardment of this mountainous area, as Jabhat Al-Nusra begins their withdrawal from this town.