Translation by Yusra Ahmed
(Zaman Al Wasl)- Fighting in the countryside of Latakia have calmed down in the past two days after the big achievement of Yarmouk Battle especially liberating the village of Kansaba in Jabal al-Akrad. Many Syrians look suspiciously to that slow in battles, and many correlated it to the truce announced by the regime during the Eid time.
A commander in the First Coastal Troupe confirmed that Yarmouk battle is still on till achieving all its goals including liberating all areas occupied by the Syrian regime under the cover of Russian air raids.
The commander in his talk to Zaman Al Wasl explained that the geographic nature of the area dictates special tactics as rebels aim to concurrently control the tops of hills close to each others, they found difficulties in controlling al-Baida hill in Jabal al-Turkmen in the third stage due to heavy ammunition on the top of it which forced them to avoid controlling the areas around it and at lower level to avoid being targeted”.
The commander who talked on condition of anonymity explained: “we have detailed plans would shock the regime’s forces and we would liberate the hill with other areas, you just wait”
The commander denied any relation between the calmness in the third stage of the liberating battle and the tricky truce the regime called for, explaining that what has been happening is kind of logistic preparation and planning for the big battle. “We have calmed down fighting even before that tricky truce of regime”, added.
In the same time, the commander mentioned that fighting is still ongoing at many battles as there were many operation targeted bases of mortars and rockets and fighters of the regime.
The ongoing preparation in the countryside of Latakia and meetings at high levels of military formations indicate that the battle has not ended yet and more losses are expected to the regime and its supporting militias, according to the military expert Tareq Haj Bakri.
“Yarmouk battle has many phases and has no time frame, the relative calmness in the last two days would be beneficial to fix mistakes happened and to have stronger relaunch ” the expert explained.
Haj Bakri explains that although the surprise is vital in wars, but battles in mountainous areas might indicate different plans as sniping and traps are essential in weakening the enemy’s forces and their confidence.
The military expert added that controlling hills in the countryside of Latakia is considered the essential step rebels need to achieve before starting their operation to control regime’s sites in villages to avoid being targeted by regime forces basing on the top of hills.
Haj Bakri has drawn attention that a strategic goal rebels have not yet achieved, as the regime with support of Russian forces aim to form a sectarian canton to the West of al-Asi river. Rebels need to separate the area from Solenfa town to Jsr al-Shoghour and Sahl al-ghab in the East.
The expert expects that Yarmouk battle would be resumed after evaluating the outcomes of previous stages.
The regime has not abided by the truce it called for in the first day of Fitr Eid and kept shelling both Jabal al-Akrad and Jabal al-Turkmen, while regime-loyal sources talk about preparation to recapture Kansaba area
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