Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Declares Start Of Offensive Operation In Northern Latakia

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On April 6, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) declared start of a “large-scale” military operation against Syrian government forces in the northern part of the province of Latakia.

Militants started the day with a heavy shelling of Syrian army positions at the Al-Akrad Mountain and the strategic government-held town of Kinsiba.

During the first stage of the operation, militants will likely attempt to retake government checkpoints in the area and to create a threat to Kinsiba.

According to a photo report released by pro-Hayat Tahrir al-Sham media, the group has deployed a notable number of troops and artillery pieces in the area. At the same time, militants suffer from a lack of heavy military equipment – a majority of tanks and armoured vehicles are now deployed in the northern countryside of Hama.

Nonetheless, this force will be enough to create another not point at the frontline between pro-government forces and the so-called opposition.