On January 19, the Syrian army and the National Defense Forces (NDF) made huge gains in the Wadi Barada region northwest of Damascus, liberating Afrah and the nearby Areed al-Saman hill.
There are indications that government troops had made a kind of reconciliation agreement with militants operating in Afrah. This allowed to get a full control over the village without an intense fighting. The Syrian army and the NDF are now securing the Afrah countryside.
Meanwhile, clashes continued in the village of Ayn al-Fijah where government troops are fighting against Jabhat Fatah al-Sham and Ahrar al-Sham militants. Local sources say that the army and the NDF are in control of about 60% of the village.
Last night, the army and the NDF captured the crossing of Abo Salem and Wadi al-Maghar.
Click to see the full-size map
