Hezbollah and the Syrian Army Capture Several Sites in Southern Aleppo; Dagestani Emir Killed

On Thursday morning, the Syrian Arab Army’s 4th Mechanized Division – in coordination with Hezbollah, the National Defense Forces (NDF), Kataebat Al-Ba’ath (Al-Ba’ath Battalions), and Harakat Al-Nujaba (Iraqi Paramilitary) – made several advances across the Aleppo Governorate’s southern countryside, capturing a number of hilltops and villages from the Islamist rebels of Harakat Nour Al-Deen Al-Zinki, Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham, the Free Syrian Army (FSA), and Liwaa Suqour Al-Sham.

According to a field source inside the provincial capital of the Aleppo Governorate, the Syrian Armed Forces and Lebanese Resistance captured Ghayghar, Al-Ajoubiyah Farms, Tal Mafless, Balas, and Jawar Al-Jahish after fierce clashes with the Islamist rebel fighters of Liwaa Suqour Al-Sham and Harakat Nour Al-Deen Al-Zinki.

The source further added that the Syrian Armed Forces and Lebanese Resistance have advanced deep into the town of Kafr ‘Abid, which is located directly south of Balas and directly east of Kafr ‘Abish; if captured, it would pave the way for the pro-government forces to push further south towards the Idlib Governorate’s northern border.

In the past 72 hours, the Islamist rebels have also suffered a significant amount of casualties, as four of their field commanders have been reported killed; this includes a well-known Dagestani emir (leader) that fought alongside Emir Rabbani in Dagestan before making his way to Syria.

The Dagestani emir was identified as “Uwais Al-Daghestani” – a field commander of the Caucasus Emirate in Syria.