Breaking: Hezbollah and Syrian Armed Forces Capture Strategic Hill at the Arsal Barrens

Moments ago, the Syrian Arab Army’s 20th and 128th Brigades of the 1st Armored Division – in coordination with Hezbollah and the National Defense Forces (NDF) – took control of the hill at Tal Sadr Al-Bustan after fierce clashes with the Syrian Al-Qaeda organization “Jabhat Al-Nusra” and their affiliates near Jaroud Faleeta in the Qalamoun Mountains of Syria.

The attack was launched by the Syrian Armed Forces and the Lebanese Resistance in order to free up the remaining territory surrounding the towns of Faleeta and Jarajeer; this area is important to the Syrian Arab Army’s Central Command due to its proximity to the Lebanese border with Syria and the large presence of Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) fighters situated in the western part of the Qalamoun Mountains.

Hezbollah is on the offensive at the western slopes of the Qalamoun Mountains, as they tackle the remaining pockets of resistance under the control of Jabhat Al-Nusra and ISIS in the ‘Arsal Barrens of the Beqa’a Governorate; this is another area of strategic importance due to the ‘Arsal District’s utilization by Jabhat Al-Nusra and ISIS as a primary vessel for their main supply route to the Rif Dimashq Governorate of Syria.

On Friday evening, the Secretary General of Hezbollah – Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah – confirmed on live television that the Lebanese Resistance will participate in the battle for eastern Lebanon; however, the military wing of Hezbollah will be limited to the area surrounding the ‘Arsal Barrens and they are prohibited from advancing any further.