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The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) launched an advance inside Basateen al-Ba’leh (the Qaboun farms) in the Qabun neighborhood of Damascus after an intense artillery shelling of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) positions in Qaboun and Barzeh.
The Syrian state-run SANA news agency reported that government forces had managed to destroy a tunnel used by Jaish al-Islam (JAI) and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militants linking the Shiry company and Harasta highway. With this development, the SAA closed all tunnels linking the rebel-held Damascus districts and the Eastern Ghouta region located east of the Syrian capital.
Separately, clashes continueed in the Jobar Industrial District where militants tried to sneak into several government-held positions but failed to achieve any success. The HTS-led forces are now attempting to fortify their broken defenses in the region.
JAI claimed that its members had destroyed a battle tank and a Shilka vehicle belonging to the Syrian Republican Guard during the clashes in Qabun.
The Syrian Air Force continued delivering airstrikes on militant targets in Jobar, Erbin, Qaboun and Barzeh hammering militant groups manpower and military equipment with Burkan and Jolan rockets.
According to pro-government sources, the 4th Division could soon contribute additional efforts to break militant defenses in Qaboun and to develop a momentum in the direction of Barza.
Jaish al-Islam militants are at the frontline:
