On March 5, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) repelled an attack by the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP), Ansar al-Islam and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra) in northern Latakia, the Hezbollah media wing in Syria reported.
The militant groups attacked positions of the SAA in multiple points in the area of Sher Al-Sahab but failed to overrun the army’s defense. According to the released report, the SAA destroyed 3 vehicles, killed “many” terrorists and seized their arms in the erupted clashes.
According to Syrian sources, militant attacks on SAA positions across Syria will intensify as government forces progress in the militant-held pocket of Eastern Ghouta. These attacks are aimed at drawing the SAA’s attention from the advance in Eastern Ghouta. However, the so-called opposition will likely not be able to achieve a success in this effort.