On Thursday, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) captured a building block north of the Sonbul gas station and the post office building in Ayn Tarma area east of Damascus, according to pro-government sources. The SAA allegedly killed and wounded 15 fighters of Faylaq al-Rahman during the clashes.
In Jobar district, also east of Damascus, the 4th Armored Division troops advanced in the Al-Manasher area.
Furthermore, Syrian Air Force warplanes continued bombing Faylaq al-Rahman positions in Ayn Tarma and Jobar.
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From its side, Faylaq al-Rahman claimed that 20 soldiers of the 4th Armored Division were killed after Faylaq al-Rahman fighters exploded the post office building in Ayn Tarma.
It was noted that Faylaq al-Rahman did not use TOW missiles during the past days against the SAA amoured vehicles. This may mean that the SAA successfully destroyed a large percentage of these missiles or that Faylaq al-Rahman used a major part of the missiles that it had managed to smuggle to Eastern Ghouta.
Hundreds of civilians protested in Arbin area in Eastern Ghouta demanding Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) fighters to withdraw from the town. Dozens of civilians also demonstrated in Kfar banta area in Eastern Ghouta also demanding HTS to withdraw from Eastern Ghouta.
These developments reflect the support of civilians in Eastern Ghouta for the de-escalation agreement agreed by Jaysh al-Islam and their rejection of HTS policy aimed at thwarting all peaceful agreements with the government.
This front is one of the hardest . There have been some serious casualties from the RG and 4th Division but I think the goal of this operation is worth it . And the rebels lines will become to slowly collapse and degrade like it happened in Qaboun . The question is when
why its so hard? what can be done to ease it?
It is hard because the rebels have been entrenched there for years like in Qaboun . Qaboun wasnt easy . It took 3 months of battle
I wish I knew the exact reason
The exact reason is the well known and fortified terrain by rebels. Building after building you have to take, watching for tunnels and booby-traps. Snipers everywhere.
But dont the SAA know the terrain too?
Sure. But the advantage is on the terrorists side because they implant the traps, tunnels and places for snipers.
I wonder how the spetsnaz and other special forces would fare in a situation like this. Are they only sent to areas where there is a very low chance of them sustaining casualties? Does the Syrian Army have a proper special forces unit?
So they should bomb them with Russian bombs that sucks put all air and all can be finished in a few days.