Syrian government troops recapture strategic Saida town in southeastern Dara’a

Syrian army soldiers have managed to establish full control over a strategic town in the country’s southwestern province of Dara’a, as they are engaged in counter-terrorism operations to put an ultimate end to the presence of foreign-backed Takfiri militants in the eastern and southeastern sectors of the province.

On Thursday, Syria’s official news agency SANA reported that government forces advanced towards the Dara'a al-Balad residential area of Dara’a, located about 13 kilometers north of the border with Jordan, where militants affiliated to the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly known as al-Nusra Front, Takfiri terror group are positioned.

The operation inflicted heavy losses on militant ranks. A number of rocket launch pads belonging to Takfiri terrorists were destroyed in the process as well.

Syrian army soldiers then entirely recaptured Saida, situated some 10 kilometers east of Dara’a, after fierce clashes with militants and driving the Takfiris out of a Syrian Air Defense Force base southeast of the town.

A number of terrorists were killed and wounded in the gun battle, while several others fled towards the nearby town of al-Taiba.

Syrian bomb disposal units are now combing the liberated area for hidden ordnance and explosive devices, which terrorists have planted there to slow down the advance of army forces.

The recent territorial gain will propel Syrian army soldiers into quicker recapture of Um Elmiathin town, before retaking the Nassib border crossing.

Militants surrender heavy weapons in southern Syrian town

Meanwhile, foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants in Busra al-Sham town have started surrendering their heavy weapons and military hardware to government forces.

“Thanks to the efforts of Russian officers, militants in Busra al-Sham have handed over a battle tank, an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) and an artillery gun to government forces. Earlier, they had handed over two other IFVs,” a Syrian military source, requesting anonymity, told Russia’s Sputnik news agency.

Busra al-Sham is one of the most strategically important strongholds of militants in southern Syria. The city is located between Dara’a and Suwayda, and only a few kilometers away from the border with Jordan.

Daesh claims responsibility for bomb attack in Dayr al-Zawr

Separately, the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group has claimed responsibility for a roadside bomb attack in the northern part of Syria's eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr.

Four American soldiers were killed when their vehicle was targeted with a powerful explosion as they were traveling along a road in al-Namileh village on Wednesday.

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian government says the Israeli regime and its Western and regional allies are aiding Takfiri terrorist groups that are wreaking havoc in the country.

Russia has been helping Syrian forces in an ongoing battle in the province of Dayr al-Zawr as Daesh struggles to keep its last positions in eastern Syria.

The Russian military assistance, which began in September 2015 at the official request of the Syrian government, has proved effective as the Syrians continue to recapture key areas from Daesh and other terrorist groups across the country with the backing of Russia’s air cover.

On May 21, the General Command of the Syrian Army and Armed Forces announced in a statement that complete security was restored to Damascus and its countryside after al-Hajar al-Aswad district and al-Yarmouk camp had been totally purged of Daesh terrorists.

The development was preceded by flushing the Takfiris out of the towns of Yalda, Babbila and Beit Sahem on the southern outskirts of Damascus.

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