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By Leith Fadel
Source: The Arab Source

On Saturday morning, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) – in coordination with the National Defense Forces (NDF), Liwaa Al-Quds (Jerusalem Brigades), and the Al-Ba’ath Battalion (Kata’eb Al-Battalions) – launched a counter-offensive in southern Aleppo to recapture the lost territory at the ‘Azzan Mountains and the hills near the Khanasser Highway.

The SAA and NDF began their counter-assault at the southeastern perimeter of Tal Sinoubrah, where they confronted a large contingent from Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham (Liberation of the Levant Movement) and Liwaa Suqour Al-Sham (Levant Hawks Brigade), resulting in their subsequent capture of this hill in the ‘Azzan Mountains of southern Aleppo.

In addition to their success at Tal Sinoubrah, the Syrian Armed Forces captured the hill of Tal Sirrou, killing 14 enemy combatants from Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and destroying two of their armored vehicles that were mounted with 14.5mm anti-aircraft machine guns.

With their success at Tal Sinoubrah and Tal Sirrou, the Syrian Armed Forces have secured the ‘Azzan Mountains of southern Aleppo after the militants from Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham’s conducted a brief offensive last week.

Following a number of clean-up operations in southern Aleppo, the SAA and Liwaa Al-Quds targeted the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” and their allies from Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and Jaysh Al-Mujahiddeen at the strategic Mafraq Al-Zakiyah Checkpoint on the Khanasser Highway; this resulted in the Syrian Armed Forces recapturing the checkpoint after a number of clashes on Saturday morning.