Syrian Army Pushes North Towards the Turkish Border as Nusra Pleads for Assistance

The last 48 hours in the Turkmen Mountains (Jabal Al-Turkmen) of northern Latakia have been hell for the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” and their allies from the Free Syrian Army (FSA), as they have conceded several villages and hilltops to the Syrian Arab Army’s 103rd Brigade of the Republican Guard during their most recent offensive.

On Friday morning, the situation in Jabal Al-Turkmen of northern Latakia did not get any better for Jabhat Al-Nusra and the Free Syrian Army’s “1st Coastal Brigade); instead, the Islamist rebel groups found themselves in a world of trouble, while the Syrian Arab Army’s 103rd Brigade overpowered their defenses and seized the strategic Al-Zahi Mountains and Burj Al-Zahi.

The seizure of the Al-Zahi Mountains and Burj Al-Zahi by the Syrian Arab Army’s 103rd Brigade was only a small glimpse into their overall success these last 48 hours in the Latakia Governorate’s northern countryside; this was also coupled with their successful campaign on the Idlib Governorate border, where the SAA, the National Defense Forces (NDF), and the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) are advancing towards the imperative city of Jisr Al-Shughour.

In addition to the Syrian Arab Army’s ground success, they also killed a prominent leader of Al-Qaeda in Syria: Zakaria ‘Abdullah.

Zakaria ‘Abdullah was considered one of the top officers in Jabhat Al-Nusra – his death in northern Latakia has added to the Islamist rebel plight.

Currently, the Syrian Arab Army’s 103rd Brigade and their allies are making a push towards the important Latakia border with Turkey that is presently under the control Jabhat Al-Nusr and the Free Syrian Army’s 1st Coastal Brigade.