The Unified Command in Eastern Ghouta said yesterday its fighters are launching a major offensive against government troops in the city of Jobar to the northeast of the capital Damascus.
Spokesman of Jaysh Al-Islam, Captain Islam Alloush, confirmed the offensive through his twitter account. “The Battle of Jobar, led by Captain Abdul Nasser Shumier, has been launched” he tweeted.
The Unified Command is an alliance of forces mainly active in the Eastern Ghouta including Jaysh Al-Islam, Faylaq Al-Rahman, Ajnad Al-Sham, Ahrar Al-Sham and Brigades of Al-Habib Al-Mustafa. The Command is led by Commander of Jaysh Al-Islam, Zahran Alloush.
Using an off-duty sewage tunnel, the Islamic fighters managed on early morning to sneak into an army staging point near the Soap Factory, blow off explosives underneath the building. The barricades and the building were partly destroyed. Army soldiers retreated through security exits.
The fighters (members of Faylaq Al-Rahman), took over the building and began entrenching their positions, clashing with army soldiers nearby.
At midday, Army engineering units planted highly explosive material around the building. Minutes later, the 17 infiltrators were buried alive under the wreckage.
Clashes continued all night. The rumbling sounds of Army’s heavy artillery could be heard all over the capital.
Incapable of achieving any progress on the ground, rebels rocked the capital with more than 12 mortar shells, injuring dozens of civilians and causing heavy material damage.
