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Syrian army forces recapture village east of Damascus

Saturday, 13 August 2016 10:21 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 13 August 2016 10:21 AM ]

Syrian army soldiers inspect improvised projectiles inside a building at the entrance of Bani Zeid neighborhood, on the northwest outskirts of Aleppo, Syria, July 28, 2016. (Photo by AFP)

Syrian army soldiers, backed by fighters from popular defense groups, have liberated a village on the eastern outskirts of the capital, Damascus, following intense clashes with foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants.

A military source said on the condition of anonymity that Syrian soldiers and their allies took full control of Hosh Nasri Village, which lies in the militant-held East Ghouta region and about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) east of the capital, on Friday.

The source added that scores of militants were killed during the heavy fighting, while several others managed to flee.

Army bomb disposal units are currently combing Hosh Nasri for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and mines, which may have been planted by the Takfiri militants.

Hosh Nasri reportedly served as a defense line for the militant groups operating in the city of Douma, situated about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) northeast of Damascus.

On Saturday, Syrian army troops destroyed a command center of Jabhat Fateh al-Sham militant group, formerly known as Nusra Front, in the southwestern province of Dara’a.

A number of militant hideouts were destroyed as government forces launched anti-terror operations in the al-Sa’d Road and Khazan al-Karak districts of the city of Dara’a, located about 90 kilometers (56 miles) south of Damascus.

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The United Natiosn (UN)’s Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura estimates that over 400,000 people have been killed in the conflict.

The UN has stopped officially counting the death toll for Syria.

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