Most Regions, Villages of Damascus Province under Gov’t Control
“The Syrian army’s military operations and accelerated national reconciliation efforts has brought back most regions in Damascus province to the government in the second half of 2016,” the official said on Thursday.
“All regions in the Southern and Southwestern parts of Damascus countryside (about 121sq/km) are now under the government’s control,” he added.
The official said that the Syrian forces have also retaken control of all the Southern parts of Damascus’ Eastern countryside, adding that only some towns, Douma city and its adjacent villages are still under militants’ control.
A field source disclosed on Wednesday that militants in seven villages in Wadi al-Bardi region in Western Ghouta of Damascus have agreed to lay down arms and join the nationwide reconciliation plan.
The source said that militants in the villages of Souq Wadi al-Bardi, al-Barhaliyeh, Kafr al-Awamid, al-Hosseiniyeh, Kafr al-Zeit and Deir Moqren have admitted to join the peace process with the Syrian Army.
The source further added that if the army deploys its forces in the two villages of Kafr al-Zeit and Deir Moqren, the noose will be tightened on the militants of Fatah al-Sham Front (previously known as the al-Nusra Front) that have opposed reconciliation.
The source underlined continued military operations against the terrorists simultaneous with intense attempts for finalizing national reconciliation in Wadi al-Bardi, adding, “Residents of villages in Wadi al-Bard region have put terrorists under pressure to accept peace to end hostilities in Wadi al-Bardi and reopen flow of drinking water to Damascus.”