BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:50 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) launched their second attack at the village of Zalaqiyat, yesterday, targeting the remaining points under jihadist rebel control in the area.

Unable to hold the village, the jihadist rebels of Jaysh Al-‘Izza were forced to withdraw to a nearby hilltop in order to regroup and shell the advancing Syrian Arab Army troops from the 39th and 41st brigades of the 4th Mechanized Division.

However, around midnight, the Syrian Arab Army was forced to temporarily withdraw from Zalaqiyat due to heavy shelling and poor visibility; they would reenter the village in the morning.

The jihadist rebels attempted to launch a counter-attack to recover the village, today; however, they were overwhelmed by the stronger Syrian Arab Army units at Zalaqiyat.

According to an officer from the 39th Brigade that spoke to Al-Masdar’s Ibrahim Joudeh, the Syrian Arab Army killed over 20 jihadists during the failed counter-assault.

The officer added that Syrian military intelligence intercepted Jaysh Al-Izza’s communications near Zalaqiyat, where their commanders could be heard on walkie talkies calling for help from local factions, but no response was given.


https://www.almasdarnews.com/article...itants-killed/