Syrian Army Takes the First Town in the Idlib Offensive, Al-Qaeda Hits Back With Suicide Car Bomb

Launched on Monday, took over a pair of strategic hills (and no man’s land villages), the Syrian-Russian Idlib offensive moved into Kafr Nabudah, a rural town of 15,000 people before the war and took it over after hours of fighting. The battle:

#Syria: video showing Regime launching this morning initial assault (before entering) on town of #KafrNabuda (N. #Hama). pic.twitter.com/K2jwmU4EhO

— Qalaat Al Mudiq (@QalaatAlMudiq) May 8, 2019

#Syria: as expected, pro-Assad forces backed by #Russia|n firepower launched at dawn large assault on #KafrNabuda front (N. #Hama). Intensity of battle unseen since years (main defensive system). Multiple tanks taken out. #HTS SVBIED detonated. pic.twitter.com/fZFewBDwMO

— Qalaat Al Mudiq (@QalaatAlMudiq) May 8, 2019

#Syria: video showing the SVBIED #HTS launched today during the battle for #KafrNabuda (N. #Hama). pic.twitter.com/gQVsk9ollm

— Qalaat Al Mudiq (@QalaatAlMudiq) May 8, 2019

Still ongoing clashes in Kafr Naboudeh. Most of the town is under SAA control, but NLF is still resisting. Russian airstrikes are hitting their supply lines

— ليث ابو فاضل (@leithfadel) May 8, 2019

The outcome so far:

Kafr Nabudah
under army

— watanisy (@watanisy) May 8, 2019

(Watan is pro-government but consistently reliable.)

https://twitter.com/watanisy/status/1126057966820634625

#Syria: around 4:PM town of #KafrNabuda is confirmed under Regime control. Clashes & bombardment continue in outskirts. Main Rebel defensive system (N. #Hama) breached between Jebal Shashabo & #Morek #TSK observation Posts. pic.twitter.com/qiLoX39P9H

— Qalaat Al Mudiq (@QalaatAlMudiq) May 8, 2019

(Qalaat is pro-rebel so his confirmation of a government win is worth double.)

#Syria: PHOTOS: #SAA T-62M & BMP-1, #SAA troops in Kafr Nabudah. #Hama pic.twitter.com/N9UTKc1tnF

— Rook (@2Rook14) May 8, 2019

#Syria: PHOTOS: #SAA & Allies in Kafr Nabudah, #Hama pic.twitter.com/cpdNHxFRGQ

— Rook (@2Rook14) May 8, 2019

This is a small win in the grand scheme of things, but important as an early sign of the strength of the two sides and chances of the offensive.

The army and the rebels have not faced off in a major battle since mid 2018, and in “Greater Idlib” for well over a year since February 2018. If Kafr Nabudah is a sign of things to come the Syrian army has not forgotten how to win in the mean time.