From MEMRI

On April 23, 2014, Jabhat Al-Nusra (JN) released a video documenting the group’s recent takeover of the Western Tal Al-Ahmar (“The Red Hill”), a Syrian military post near the Golan Heights in Al-Quneitra governorate.

The video, which is 12:20 in duration and was released on Al-Fida’ forum, also incorporates several nasheeds (Islamic songs) about Al-Aqsa (Jerusalem). It begins by showing a group of JN men on their way to the Western Tal Al-Ahmar, followed by various battle scenes. JN men are seen firing at the Syrian military post situated at the top of the hill.

Images of the battle’s aftermath are shown next, including one of piled-up bodies of Syrian soldiers in a ditch.

Next, a JN man is seen standing with bodies of Syrian soldiers at his feet. The man says that JN is on the “front line of defending the Muslim ummah,” against the “Safavid-Rafidite alliance,” (Iranian-Hezbollah Alliance) which, he says, extends from Qom (Iran) to Beirut’s southern neighborhood (i.e. The Dahieh, Hezbollah’s stronghold). The man adds that JN is also fighting the Zionist-Crusader alliance that occupies Muslim lands.

Sami Al-‘Aridi, a prominent JN figure is seen next, sitting on top of a hill while surrounded by a group of JN men. Al-‘Aridi, who appears emotional from the moment, says that “this scene speaks [for itself].” He adds that this area was controlled by unbelief, but that now “the banner of taw hid (Islamic monotheism) is raised over it” and that the victory here was achieved due to Allah’s grace. The banner (of tawhid), he says, was first raised in this century by Osama bin Laden, and shall continue to be raised and “move from [one] lion to [another]… until it reaches Muhammad… the Mahdi.” The era of epic battles, he adds, began with the 9/11 raids.

An unidentified man then thanks the mujahideen for raising the banner of tawhid on the hills in Tel-Ahmar area. This scene, he says, reminds us of the “lion of Islam, the lion of the mujahideen Osama bin Laden…this scene reminds us of Sheikh Osama [bin Laden] when he was [standing] on the mountains of Tora Bora…”