The roar of heavy battles, artillery shelling and airstrikes could be heard all over the Syrian capital as the government forces insistently resumed a wide-scale military operation in Barzeh, al-Qaboun and Harasta to the north and northeastern outskirts of Damascus.
The week-long Army’s assault was initially meant to split out the adjacent Barzeh and al-Qaboun districts through the groves area; a tactic used previously by the Syrian Army in the battle for Darayya and Moadamiyah, and proved incredible success as the two former rebel-held pockets have eventually fallen to Syrian Army.
A military source from the battleground confirmed that over 60% of the extended groves area are already under the Army’s full control.
Amidst the process, two tunnels were discovered in the area which were used to transfer weapons, ammunitions and supplies from and to the besieged Eastern Ghouta; one of them is big enough for a car to fin in it.
Meanwhile, and based on precise intelligence info, the Syrian fighter jets targeted a rebel headquarter in the eastern part of al-Qaboun neighborhood, completely destroying the facility, killing and injuring most of the fighters inside.
A few kilometers to the east, the government troops continue to make substantial advances in the western part of Harasta farmlands. There, the Army’s Engineering Units detonated a huge tunnel dug by Islamist rebels to infiltrate the nearby Military Hospital.
Dozens of anti-government militiamen were immediately killed in the explosion; some of them were buried under the rubbles.
Rebel forces retaliated with shelling the residential neighborhoods in the capital with mortars and homegrown missiles, killing and wounding civilians and causing substantial material damage.


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