Syrian Arab army advances in western countryside of Daraa after heavy fighting

PROVINCES,(ST)_Large parts of the eastern and western edges of Sheikh Meskin city in the western countryside of Daraa were recaptured on Sunday by Syrian army, according to media sources.

The sources clarified that the fresh progress was preceded by heavy fighting between Syrian army and terrorist groups.

“At least 11 terrorists affiliated to al-Nusra Front were killed in an operation carried out by Syrian army in the eastern countryside of Daraa,” the Beirut-based al-Mayadeen TV channel said.

While the official news agency (SANA) reported that army units targeted terrorist groupings north Athman town and in Sheikh Meskin as well as on Sanamen- Sheikh Meskin and Kherba-Jemrin roads in the eastern side of Daraa where many terrorists were killed.

Official media outlets have not confirmed the progress in western countryside of Daraa yet.

SANA quoted a military source as saying that army units foiled terrorist group’s infiltration bid from the west edge of Athman town into the town. “All group’s members were eliminated.”

In addition, Syrian army killed and injured many terrorists in al-Za’afaraneh and Wadi al-Kahf south-west Hasya’a in Homs countryside and in al-Hamedeyeh town in Quneitra countryside.

More terrorists were killed when Syrian army targeted their groupings in Filon, Ma’arret Mesrin, Kansafra, Qeston, Bennesh, surrounding of Jabal al-Arba’een, Jabal –al-Zaweyeh and Nahelya in Idlib countryside.

Large numbers of ‘Thowwar Syria’ Front defect      

On the other hand, al-Mayadden TV channel said the leader of the ‘Thowwar Syria’ Front Jamal Ma’arouf headed to the southern countryside of Idlib after defection of large numbers of his men to join the ‘Soqour al-Sham’ brigades.

“Ma’arouf is mobilizing gunmen in northern countryside of Hama to retake Jabal al-Zaweyeh towns from al-Nusra Front,” the TV channel added, indicating that Al-Nusra Front is preparing to launch a wide-scale operation in northern countryside of Idlib.

In the same province [Idlib], the so-called the ‘Hazm’ Movement reportedly gave al-Nusra Front arms caches in Khan al-Sebl, containing TAO missiles.      

Basma Qaddour