Hezbollah and the Syrian Army Produce Huge Gains Inside Al-Zabadani

Day 37 of the Syrian Arab Army/Hezbollah offensive in Al-Zabadani got off to great start for the latter, as they pushed deep into the heart of this resort-city’s downtown area, capturing multiple buildings and street blocks from Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham, the Free Syrian Army’s “Al-Zabadani Hawks Brigade” and the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra.”

The Syrian Arab Army’s 63rd Brigade of the prestigious 4th Mechanized Division – in coordination with Hezbollah, the National Defense Forces (NDF), and the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) – continued their powerful assault on Jabhat Al-Nusra and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham’s defensive positions at the city-center, killing over 40 enemy combatants on Monday.

Among the targets for Hezbollah and the Syrian Armed Forces was the Imam ‘Ali Mosque and its surroundings; this would prove to be a pivotal battle between Jabhat Al-Nusra/Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and Hezbollah/SAA on Monday, as the latter forces were able to impose full-control over the mosque and the building blocks surrounding it.

In addition to their success at the Imam ‘Ali Mosque and its surroundings, the Syrian Armed Forces and Hezbollah captured 16 buildings in northern Al-Zabadani en route to the strategically located “Mahata Roundabout.”

The coming days will be crucial for Hezbollah and the Syrian Armed Forces, as Jabhat Al-Nusra and company struggle to maintain their ground inside Al-Zabadani’s downtown area.