Hizbullah Seizes 70% of Arsal Outskirts, Entire Area around Flita
Hizbullah on Sunday pressed on with its assault in the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal, seizing more strategic points from the hands of the Fateh al-Sham jihadist group, which was known as al-Nusra Front before announcing a severing of ties with al-Qaida.
Hizbullah's military media unit said the group's fighters seized control of the entire outskirts of Syria's Flita from Nusra's hands and were in control of around 70% of Arsal's outskirts by Sunday afternoon.
"The resistance has seized control of the Shaabat Sharaf hill, the Hqab Wadi al-Kheil hill, Dalil Wadi al-Rihan, Hqab Wadi al-Rihan, Wadi al-Rihan and Hqab al-Tabbeh in Arsal's outskirts," the unit said.
Syrian warplanes meanwhile carried out intense raids on the Wadi al-Kheil area.
According to the National News Agency, Nusra's presence has become limited to the Wadi Hmayyed and al-Malahi areas after Hizbullah took Wadi al-Kheil and the al-Kassarat region.
"The Lebanese army is still confronting any infiltration attempt by the militants towards the town of Arsal," NNA added.
Hizbullah had achieved major progress in Arsal's outskirts in the morning, capturing al-Oueini valley, “an important Nusra post in the outskirts,” Hizbullah's military media unit said.
Hizbullah also took the strategic Shoabat al-Qalaa mountain which, according to the military media unit, lies 2,350 meters above sea level and oversees the al-Dobb and al-Rihan valleys.
According to NNA, artillery and rocket fire was also targeting al-Nisr valley amid a notable advance towards the al-Shayyar hill.
Also on Sunday, the Saraya Ahl al-Sham rebel group announced a ceasefire in Arsal “in preparation for negotiations.”
According to the military media unit, at least 46 Nusra militants were killed in Arsal's outskirts and at least 23 others were killed in Flita's outskirts on Sunday while dozens of the jihadist group's fighters were wounded.
Hizbullah had launched its long-awaited assault in the border region on Friday and has lost around 19 fighters in the ongoing battle.
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