On Saturday, Hezbollah and the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) launched the “Operation If ye revert, We shall revert” to liberate the Western Qalamoun region from ISIS terrorists at the Syrian-Lebanese border.
According to the Hezbollah media wing in Syria, the SAA and Hezbollah captured the following areas in Jorud Qara and Jorud al-Jarajir in the Western Qalamoun region: Wadi Massud, -Wadi Abu-Khadir, Sha’abat Surur, Qabr al-Arsali, Khirbat al-Ayilah, Harf Wadi farah heights, Ras Sha’abat al-Magharah, Qurnat Shumes, the Khanjar roundabout, Saha’abat al-Sauki, the Wadi Khanjar roundabout, Shumies al-Zamrani, the Thanayah al-Hariq height, the Abu Khadej height, Shaluf al-Zamrani.
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Furthermore, Hezbollah and the SAA captured the strategic Mosul mount in the Jurod al-Brig area. The SAA and Hezbollah also captured the Zamrani crossing on the Syrian-Lebanese border.
At least 3 ISIS fighters have surrendered to Hezbollah and the SAA in the Western Qalamoun region so far. One of them is the ISIS field commander in al-Zamrani area, Ahmad Wahid al-Abd.
From its side, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) launched “Operation Dawn of Jorud” to capture Ras Balbak and al-Qa’a areas. LAF spokesperson Nazih Jurais announced that the LAF captured 30 square kilometers from ISIS and killed 20 ISIS fighters so far.
On Saturday also, LAF General Ali Qansuh revealed that there are at least 600 ISIS fighters on the Syrian-Lebanese border controlling 120 square kilometers from Ras Balbak to Western Qalamoun. Moreover, Qansuh denied any coordination between the LAF and the SAA.
Part 2: Some more photos from Operation #Barren_Dawn / #فجر_الجرود pic.twitter.com/jL8SLXFmuj
— Rafael (@RafaelBabikian) 19 August 2017
Lebanese sources claimed that many ISIS fighters surrendered to the LAF in Ras Balbak. Sources also claimed that the Lebanese Intelligence may have found the bodies of LAF soldiers executed who been by ISIS in 2014, this claimed is yet to be confirmed by Lebanese officials.
Speculation even appeared that 200 ISIS members have surrendered. However, no video or photo evidence has appeared to confirm these claims.
اللواء #عباس_ابراهيم للميادين نت: موكب للأمن العام اللبناني توجه إلى #عرسال بمواكبة الصليب الأحمر و #الجيش في مهمة سيعلن عنها لاحقاً
— Lana Medawar (@MedawarLana) 19 August 2017
Many sources expected that the operations against ISIS on the Syrian-Lebanese borders won’t last long as ISIS fighters there are poorly armed, and unwilling just like Haya’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) fighters in Arsal area before.
