Reporting from the battle scene, Al-Alam’s Syria correspondent says by taking control over the region, the Syrian forces intend to block the routes used by the armed elements to smuggle weapons and infiltrate into Syria through the Lebanese border areas.

According to the report, the armed elements have tried to use the area to supply weapons and ammunition to their comrades in Qala’at al-Hosn and nearby regions.

The fighting in the region, which is considered a life-line for the al-Nusra insurgents, still continues as Syrian army troops have engaged the armed elements in several fronts.

The armed insurgents have used the valleys in the area to move towards and infiltrate into the Qala’at al-Hosn.

One of the Syrian army officers is cited in the report as saying that al-Nusra elements have been entrenched at one of the hotels in the area and have established a military zone.

The strategic objective of the Syrian army in the area is to resume its control over the valleys and hills surrounding azzara and have carried out an operation to advance towards the city and close-in on the al-Nusra militants.

MB/MB