Hizbullah Continues Offensive in Qalamoun, Seizes Hilltop
Hizbullah seized control Saturday of a hilltop on the outskirts of the town of Fleita in the Syrian al-Qalamoun region.
The party's mouthpiece al-Manar TV station reported that Hizbullah fighters, backed by Syrian regime troops, captured Sadr al-Bustan hilltop.
The party also took control of Hawd al-Teshreeni peak, which oversees al-Hoqban valley, al-Rahwa and al-Dboul valley in east Arsal.
Tens of al-Qaida-affiliate al-Nusra Front's militants were allegedly killed in the fierce battles.
Al-Manar showed footage of Hizbullah and the Syrian army's operation in al-Thallaja mountain in Fleita, where fighters were able to unfurl their flags on the mountain top.
On Friday, Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah claimed that the party managed to "liberate dozens of square kilometers" of land in al-Qalamoun, pushing back al-Nusra Front and its allies.
He vowed that Hizbullah will next turn its sights on the Islamic State group which has seized chunks of Syria and Iraq.
Hizbullah insists it is fighting in Syria to prevent extremist groups from entering Lebanon.
The Syrian army said Friday it had seized numerous villages and strategic hilltops in Qalamoun with Hizbullah's help, Syria's state television reported.
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