Takfiri militants on ropes in Syria

A political analyst says foreign-backed Takfiri forces in Syria are “on the ropes,” as the Syrian army continues to make more gains in its fight against militants, Press TV reports.

In an interview with Press TV on Wednesday, Michael Maloof, a former Pentagon official, described recent reports about the Syrian army recapturing a key town near the Lebanese border as “a very strategic development.”

“My idea is that the insurgency [in Syria] is on the ropes in many respects, especially among the opposition,” said Maloof, stressing that the Syrian army “has got to remain strong and stay focused the way that they are.”

On Tuesday, the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that government forces took full control of the strategic Damascus-Homs highway after seizing most of the town of Nabak in Syria’s western Qalamoun region, near the border with Lebanon.

The analyst further described the latest development as “very, very important,” saying it would help Syrian troops secure the capital, Damascus.

“It has got to be maintained and the troops have got to stay there in order to ensure that the rebels no longer have the ability to acquire the supplies that they require,” Maloof pointed out.

Over the past months, the Syrian army has managed to inflict major losses on militant groups. The army has also conducted successful clean-up operations across the country.

On November 28, Syrian forces launched a counter offensive against the terrorist groups operating in Deir Attiyeh, located on the Damascus-Homs highway in Syria’s Qalamoun region, regaining control over the town.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since March 2011. Reports indicate that the Western powers and their regional allies — especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey — are supporting the militants operating against Syria.