Aleppo: Al-Nusra Front Attack on the Al-Zahra Quarter is Thwarted by the SAA

The Al-Nusra Front (Jabhat Al-Nusra) attempted a surprise attack on the Al-Zahra Associations Quarter in west Aleppo, launching another offensive near the strategic Air Force Intelligence building. However, the Al-Nusra Front attack was intercepted before they could approach the Al-Zahra Association’s barricades; this was due to the Syrian Arab Air Force’s (SAAF) reconnaissance flights in west Aleppo.

According to a Syrian military source, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and National Defense Forces (NDF) overpowered the Al-Nusra Front contingent approximately 1km from the Al-Zahra Associations Quarter’s entrance, resulting in the latter’s tactical withdrawal northwest of this vital area.

The source further added that the Al-Nusra Front suffered heavy casualties as a result of this attack on the Al-Zahra Associations Quarter, including a number of foreigners and their Chechen field commander, “Abu Mustafa Al-Sheeshaani.” At least two dozen Al-Nusra Front militants were killed as a result of their short offensive; meanwhile, the SAA and NDF suffered a combined 6 casualties (1 SAA and 5 NDF).

In Al-Zahra and Nubl, the Al-Nusra Front continued its assault on the eastern perimeter sector of these predominately Shi’I villages near the imperative city of ‘Anadan. Unable to infiltrate Hezbollah and NDF positions on the eastern perimeter, the Al-Nusra Front retreated east in order to avoid suffering more casualties as a result of the SAAF’s air raids. The Al-Nusra Front’s offensive on Al-Zahra and Nubl has failed to yield any advancement for the latter as the villages’ defenses have been nearly impenetrable.

al-Masdar