Opposition groups launch a large-scale attack in northern Latakia
Idlib – North-Press Agency
Syrian opposition groups and other Islamic militias launched a new and expanded military operation, on Friday, on several axes in al-Akrad Mountain, north-east of Latakia, targeting several areas and strategic hills which are controlled by the Syrian government forces.
According to information received by the North-Press, the Syrian opposition groups took control of a strategic hill "Rasha", following intensive artillery and rocket shelling, followed by fierce battles with the Syrian government forces, while the groups continue to advance on the same axis, controlling several points, which weren't announced until the moment of editing the news.
Military sources told North-Press that the engaged groups included many Syrian rebel and other Jihadi Islamist militias such as the National Liberation Front, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Ansar al-Tawhid and Hurras al-Din, which managed to destroy a cannon 23 loaded on a military vehicle on Rasha Hill axis afore taking control of it. The armed opposition groups also captured 20 members of the Syrian government forces.
Furthermore, sources added that Rasha Hill is considered as a line of defense for the Syrian Arab Army for several strategic locations, in addition to its position which overlooks the hills of al-Kabenah, which is controlled by the opposition groups. This axis undergoes daily attempts of advance by the Syrian governmental forces and its Russian ally.
The hill is considered as the first line of defense of the western countryside of Idlib and the western countryside of Hama. It is located in al-Akrad Mountain, northeast of Latakia, with a complex mountainous terrain. As al-Kabenah overlooks the entire al-Ghab plain and Jabal Shahshabo in the western countryside of Hama, the city of Jisr al-Shughur and its western countryside, and large parts of Latakia – Aleppo highway M4, to the town of Mahambal and large areas of Jabal al-Zawiya in Idlib governorate.
It is noteworthy that al-Kabenah and its hills are controlled by "Hurras al-Din, Ansar al-Tawhid and the Islamic Turkistan Party”, mostly Jihadi Islamist militias.