Islamist Offensive Near Damascus Ends in Violent Disarray

Jaysh Al-Islam’s (Army of Islam) two week long offensive at the city of Harasta in the Rif Dimashq Governorate ended abruptly on Saturday, as the Islamist fighters sustained heavy casualties amid a fracture in their frontline positions that left them in complete disarray.

On Saturday morning, the Syrian Arab Army’s 105th Brigade of the Republican Guard – in coordination with the National Defense Forces (NDF) – continued their counter-assault inside Harasta, targeting Jaysh Al-Islam’s forces at the 5th District, Al-‘Ajmi District, and the Harasta Roundabout.

According to a military source in Damascus, the Syrian Armed Forces killed 10 enemy combatants on Saturday; they were identified as the following:

1. Isma’eel Ramadan
2. ‘Umar ‘Arbash
3. ‘Aamer Salaam
4. Fadi Al-Akhras
5. Suleiman Wawiyah
6. Hatim Shehaab
7. Sa’eed Al-Dilaati
8. Kamaal Taraabishi
9. Aymen Faqa’y
10. Salah Taqtaq

To the southwest of Harasta, the Republican Guard carried out a powerful assault at the town of ‘Arbeen, killing 9 enemy combatants inside the Al-Sawa District and the nearby Jabal Al-Uthman Mosque – 4 enemy combatants were identified:

1. Nour Kawkah
2. Mohammad Al-Tayar
3. Hassan Arafat
4. Yousef Al-Zinkousi

Meanwhile at the Jaysh Al-Islam stronghold of Douma, the Syrian Armed Forces pounded the Islamist rebels at Al-Aliyah Farm, destroying two armored vehicles mounted with doshkas and killing 10 militants that were identified as the following:

1. Mustafa Al-Buweidani
2. ‘Umar Al-Na’al
3. Radwan Qashwa
4. ‘Abdel-Hadi Al-Wazeir
5. Khaled Al-Toukhi
6. Mahmoud Salaam
7. Hussam Al-Sa’eed
8. Mohammad ‘Aadl Al-Ameen
9. Bilal Nasrallah
10. Bassam Barhoush