Syria in Last 24 Hours: Army Starts Fresh Operations in Damascus Province
TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian army started fresh military operations against terrorists in Damascus province.
The army's fresh operations came after Faylaq al-Rahman failed to drive out Al-Nusra Front (Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at or the Levant Liberation Board) from several areas in Eastern Ghouta, Damascus.
The Syrian army and popular forces also hit hard the military positions of the terrorists in other key provinces across Syria.
Damascus
The Syrian Army troops relaunched their operation against the Al-Nusra Front in Eastern Ghouta after Faylaq al-Rahman militants failed to drive the Al-Nusra out of the region.
The army men restarted hitting Al-Nusra's positions and imposed control over several positions in Jobar region.
In the meantime, the army's artillery and missile units shelled Al-Nusra centers in Arfeh area in the depth of Jobar region, destroying terrorists' command centers and arms depot.
The artillery and missile units also targeted terrorists' movements along a road that connects Jobar and Ein Terma to positons behind the Al-Nusra's defense lines.
Also, the Syrian Air Force carried out several combat sorties over the Al-Nusra' concentration centers in Ein Terma-Jobar-Zmelka and Sonbol petrol station, killing and wounding a large number of terrorists.
Hama
The Syrian Air Force carried out several combat flights over ISIL's positions and movements in Eastern Hama, inflicting major casualties on the terrorists.
The army aircraft bombed heavily ISIL's concentration centers in Akhash and Wadi al-Za'eja regions in Eastern Hama.
A military source said that two military vehicles and a tanker of ISIL were destroyed and 18 terrorists, including the terrorist group's Mufti (religious leader) nom de guerre al-Harbi, were killed and tens of others were wounded in the air raids.
Raqqa
The Syrian army troops hit ISIL's defense lines hard Southeast of Raqqa province and imposed control over more territories in their push towards Deir Ezzur.
The army soldiers pushed ISIL back from the regions of al-Rajoum, Wadi al-Kharij and Wadi al-Humeimeh al-Saqireh after hours of non-stop battle and imposing control over Wadi al-Torab and Tal al-Torab regions.
In the meantime, a military source said that the army soldiers have advanced several kilometers against ISIL along Raqqa's Eastern border with Deir Ezzur and seized Wadi al-Qatoub, Tal Ra'as al-Baten and Wadi Ba'ar Sajiri regions.
Homs
The Syrian Army sent hundreds of fresh forces and a large volume of military equipment to Eastern Homs to participate in an imminent large-scale operation to lift the siege on Deir Ezzur airport, a military source confirmed on Sunday.
The source said that tens of military convoys, carrying hundreds of army soldiers along with a large volume of military hardware have been dispatched to Palmyra's countryside to join the government forces' final phase of joint operation in Eastern Homs and Deir Ezzur.
The source further added that thousands of tribal fighters from the province of Raqqa, Hasaka, Homs and Hama have participated in the anti-ISIL operation.
The tribal fighters are assisting the army in the battlefields and meantime their geographical information about the region has been very useful for the army soldiers.
The source further added that hundreds of tribal combatants are taking part in anti-terrorism operations in the Southern territories of Raqqa province towards Homs and Deir Ezzur.
Reports said earlier on Sunday that the army men took control over several hills and heights overlooking the town of al-Sukhnah and managed to impose fire control over al-Sukhnah gas field, adding that the army soldiers are now just half a mile away from ISIL's last stronghold in Homs, al-Sukhnah.
The source further said that the army intends to impose full control over areas surroundings al-Sukhnah and restore security to the town, adding that they are also to tighten siege on ISIL inside al-Sukhnah to prevent ISIL's possible attacks on pro-government positions and later start the final phase of the liberation operation of al-Sukhnah.
The source further added that a large number of fresh army soldiers and more military equipment have been forwarded to al-Sukhnah in the last few days.
Al-Sukhnah is located at a crossroad linking Homs, Raqqa and Deir Ezzur along the Palmyra-Deir Ezzur highway, and the source said the army's advance towards Deir Ezzur to lift ISIL's siege on the Eastern city will be accelerated after taking back al-Sukhnah.
Also, field reports said that the ISIL terrorists have been fleeing al-Sukhnah towards Deir Ezzur following the army's recent victories in region.
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