Rebels launched a surprise attack on Hezbollah positions near the town of Fallita in the Qalamoun area, killing and injuring dozens of the Iranian-backed Lebanese militia. A violent explosion rocked Al Qaboun neighborhood in Damascus, followed by clashes between the rebels and regime forces. Regime forces carried out heavy artillery and rocket shelling on Zebdine, Zabadani West, Al Taiba in Rural Damascus. Nasr al-Hariri, former Secretary General of the Syrian Coalition, described the forming of the First Army in the southern front and the merging of rebel factions in the Qalamoun area an important step forward needed to force the Assad regime to sit at the negotiating table. “Events on the ground have proven that they are the only factor capable of creating suitable conditions for reaching a solution to the conflict,” Hariri said. “The First Army will hopefully form the nucleus of an institutionalized effective military force and a step towards ending the fragmentation of rebel factions. Moreover, we hope that this step save the blood of the Syrian people and pave the way towards victory. Failing to follow suit and unify military efforts against the Assad regime means partnering with Assad in the killing of the Syrian people.” (Source: Syrian Coalition)
