Syria in Last 24 Hours: Syrian Army Advances in Eastern Damascus after Heavy Airstrikes

Supported by the air force’s heavy airstrikes, the Syrian army’s 105th Brigade of the Republican Guard managed to capture the Ein Terma’s Meat Market and the surrounding buildings after fierce battle with Faylaq al-Rahman terrorists.

The Syrian army also continued its advances in other key provinces across Syria.

Damascus

Meanwhile, another unit of the 105th Brigade, alongside the Palestine Liberation Army (PLA) and National Defense Forces (NDF), stormed the militant-held Tibeh district of Jobar in Northwest of Ein Terma, resulting in a series of clashes.

Meantime, the army troops engaged in clashes with FSA terrorists in Badiyeh region, and regained control of the villages of Kharbat Raqaba, Abu Khashbeh and Tal Makhrouteh in the Southern and Southeastern parts of the strategic al-Sis mountain in Southeastern Damascus.

According to a military source, the assault by pro-government forces inflicted heavy casualties on FSA militants in the area, stressing that the clashes killed and wounded 20 militants and smashed two of their military vehicles.

Furthermore, the US-vetted mercenaries also lost one of their operation rooms in the region during the pro-government forces’ attacks.

This most recent victory by the Syrian army and its allies in the country’s Southwestern region of Badiyeh is part of an ongoing operation to isolate and destroy a massive FSA salient that juts in the direction of Damascus and then expand pro-government control along the borders with Jordan and Iraq.

Homs

The Syrian army, backed by Hezbollah forces and the Russian combat choppers, resumed their offensives in the Eastern parts of Palmyra (Tadmur) in Homs, targeting ISIL’s last positions around al-Heil Gas Field and killing several terrorists.

Backed by the Russian combat helicopters, the Syrian army’s 5th Corps, alongside Hezbollah and the Afghan Liwa Fatemiyoun forces, stormed ISIL’s defense lines near al-Heil Gas Field, inflicting heavy damage on the terrorist group’s fortifications.

According to a military source, the Syrian army managed to establish security at al-Heil Gas Field region, killing at least 15 ISIL terrorists in clashes.

Hama

The Syrian soldiers regained control of several more regions in Eastern Hama during an intensive military operations against the ISIL and Al-Nusra Front (also known as Fatah al-Sham Front or the Levant Liberation Board) terrorist groups.

The army forces won back control of Kojak farms and the hills overlooking the village of al-Takileh in the Eastern parts of Salamiyah.

They also engaged in fierce clashes with the Al-Nusra terrorists who wanted to occupy the military points in al-Sat’hiyat region in Western Salamiyah.

Meantime, the Syrian air force launched airstrikes on ISIL positions in the villages of al-Makimen and Hamada Omar in Eastern Salamiyah, inflicting casualties on the terrorists.

Also, the army, backed by the ‘Desert Hawks’ special forces, the NDF and members of the Palestinian Liwa al-Quds brigade, made major gains in Eastern Hama in the battle against the ISIL terrorists.

The pro-government forces recaptured the villages of Um Tweineh, al-Hardaneh and al-Qatshiyah from the ISIL during the offensive.

The Syrian army and its allies launched a fresh offensive against the ISIL in Eastern Hama earlier in July. Eastern Hama is considered to be the last ISIL stronghold in Central Syria.

Sources also said the army was preparing to launch the next phase of their Eastern Hama anti-terrorism offensive that would concentrate on the ISIL stronghold of Aqayrabat at the borders with Homs province.

The army sent reinforcements from their Elite 5th Corps to Hama to aid the pro-government Desert Hawks Brigade (Liwa Suqour al-Sahra).

According to a military source, the 3rd Brigade of the 5th Corps was the unit sent by the Syrian army’s High Command to assist in the offensive.

The 3rd Brigade participated in several battles against the ISIL this year, including the liberation of the Eastern and Southern outskirts of the ancient city of Palmyra (Tadmur) in Homs.

Deir Ezzur

The Syrian air force launched massive airstrikes on ISIL bases and positions near the Deir Ezzur military airbase, inflicting heavy damage on the terrorists.

The Syrian warplanes bombed ISIL’s moves and positions in the villages of al-Jafreh, al-Hosseiniyeh, al-Janiniyeh and Ayash as well as the Industrial Town and the districts of Khasarat and Konamat and its passageway.

A field commander said that the attacks destroyed several ISIL hideouts and vehicles.

Dara’a

The largest coalition of militant groups in Southern Syria announced that they refused to participate in a US-Russia brokered cessation of hostilities stretching across Quneitra, Dara’a and Western Sweida.

Releasing a long statement on the matter, the ‘Death over Humiliation’ operations room that was formed in February to unite Tahrir al-Sham Hay’at (the Levant Liberation Board or the al-Nusra Front) and Free Syrian Army (FSA) terrorist groups under one fighting force, stated it would not adhere to the ceasefire, rendering it useless:

Thus, clashes between militants and the Syrian army resumed across all the three provinces in Southern Syria on Friday with both sides exchanging artillery fire.

Effectively, the ceasefire held for less than one week.

Reports also said that a senior commander of FSA terrorist group was killed in a roadside bomb attack by the Syrian army along the Sariyah road in the Southern outskirts of Inkhel in Dara’a province.

Commander of FSA’s Regiment 107 named Adnan al-Wadi and his driver, Ra’ed Najm al-Wadi, were both killed when the car carrying them was blown up by the army’s roadside bomb.

According to a military source in Dara’a, the Syrian army managed to gather intel regarding al-Wadi’s whereabouts through their informants in Dara’a province.

Idlib

A fierce battle broke out between the two largest militant groups in Syria, as two former allies clashed in Killi, Idlib province.

The heavy clashes started when a large Ahrar Al-Sham convoy began moving towards a Tahrir al-Sham Hay’at (the Levant Liberation Board or the al-Nusra Front) base in Killi, and the latter opened fire on the convoy.

According to opposition activists, clashes have died down now, however, several civilians were wounded during the militants’ infighting.

Tensions have heightened in Idlib province between the former allies, as Tahrir al-Sham’s aggression has forced Ahrar al-Sham to fortify many areas in anticipation of a large attack by the al-Qaeda affiliate.

Aleppo

Media reports said that the Turkish army strengthened its military presence near Afrin region in Aleppo province.

According to Hawar news, the Turkish army increased the number of its military forces at borders between Afrin and Bakur region in Kurdistan in the villages of Ali Karo and Beykeh in Balbaleh region.

The Turkish army also set up two watchtowers between the villages of Ali Karo and Beykeh and gathered its forces in the region.

It also established three bases between Beykeh and the village of Jorjio in Bakur, equipping them with heavy cannons and ammunition.