Syrian Army, Hezbollah Take Full Control of Strategic Region in al-Qalamoun

Wadi al-Maqara crossing in Jreijeer hilltop in Al-Qalamoun mountains was seized back from ISIL control after fierce clashes.

Early reports indicated a large number of casualties in the battle over Wadi al-Maqara crossing, but there has been no official account on death toll on either side.

On Tuesday, Hezbollah along with Syrian troops pressed ahead with their military campaign against the ISIL in Qalamoun region and seized backed several more regions from the grip of the Takfiri terrorist group.

The joint forces took control of Shoba al-Bakareh, Shoba Salaja al-Barkan, Qarna Shoba al-Shekara, Shoba Beit Shakour and Zalil al-Haj Ali hilltops.

The Syrian army and Hezbollah fighters inflicted major losses on the ISIL terrorists, killing tens of them and injuring dozens more.

On Sunday, the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement started its first phase of military operations against the ISIL Takfiri terrorists in Al-Qalamoun after purging Al-Nusra Front terrorists from the mountainous region along the Syria-Lebanon border in the last several weeks.

The Hezbollah operations cover areas from al-Qasir region to the hilltops of al-Aqua, Ras Ba’albak and al-Jreijeer in Al-Qalamoun.

The Hezbollah fighters are using new tactics in their operations against the ISIL in Al-Qalamoun, including use of reconnaissance and missile-launching drones.

Hezbollah’s drones are due to find the precise location of ISIL hideouts in the region and then target them.

Last Tuesday, Hezbollah alongside the Syrian Army stormed the positions of al-Nusra terrorists in the nearby areas of Jreijeer and took control over this strategic spot.

The military sources said that the terrorists’ concentration center in Jreijeer was their last stronghold in al-Qalamoun.

Earlier this month, Hezbollah Deputy Leader Sheikh Naeem Qassem underlined that the Lebanese resistance movement will continue fighting against the Takfiri terrorists in Arsal border region.

“We will continue our battle in Arsal hilltops until uprooting the last terrorist in that region, but (protecting) the security of the city of Arsal is the duty of the Lebanese government that needs to be fulfilled,” the Lebanese Elnashra news website quoted Sheikh Qassem as saying.

The Lebanese deputy chief, meantime, pointed to the regional crises created by the West, and said, “The western countries are good at creating crises, but they are unsuccessful when it comes to ending them.”