Syrian forces make fresh gains on southern border with Jordan: Report

Syrian army soldiers and allied fighters have reportedly managed to liberate nine positions from the grip of Takfiri terrorists along the country’s southern border with Jordan.

A military news outlet run by the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement said on Saturday that the newly-recaptured positions were all situated to the southeast of the capital Damascus.

The Syrian army’s attack killed and wounded militants, the report added without elaborating on their number.

Hezbollah has played a critical role in the Syrian military’s counter-terrorism operations over the past few years.

The Daesh Takfiri terrorist group has lately retreated from much of the territory under its control amid sweeping advances by Syrian forces on the battlefield.

On Friday, Syrian troops thwarted a Daesh attack and wrested control over a road connecting the cities of Palmyra and Dayr al-Zawr.

“The Syrian army and its allies completely secured the Dayr al-Zawr-Palmyra highway after foiling the intense attack. The highway has become passable for traffic in both directions to and from Dayr al-Zawr,” a Hezbollah media unit said.

Dayr al-Zawr, which is located southeast of Daesh’s former stronghold of Raqqah, was besieged by the terror outfit in 2014. Syrian government forces, backed by Russia’s air cover, broke the siege on the city last month.

Last week, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said Damascus was close to victory in its fight against foreign-sponsored terrorism in the Arab country.

Final victory at hand: Syria

The Syrian foreign minister tells the UN General Assembly that his country will soon achieve victory against terrorists.

“My country, along with its steadfast people and its brave army and supported by our loyal allies, is marching steadily towards the goal of rooting out terrorism. The liberation of Aleppo and Palmyra, the lifting of the siege on the city of Dayr al-Zawr and the eradication of terrorism from many parts of Syria prove that victory is now within reach,” he said.

China opposes Syria disintegration: Diplomat

Separately on Saturday, China’s ambassador to Syria stressed that Beijing supports “Syria’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity” and rejects “any attempt to divide it.”

Syria’s official SANA news agency quoted Qi Qianjin as saying that “only the Syrian people have the right to determine their future… not any other country.”

He further expressed China’s resolve to develop political, economic, educational and strategic relations with Syria.