Syrian forces launch major attack on rebels in Qalamoun

 

BEIRUT: Syria's armed forces commenced a major attack on rebels in eastern Qalamoun, Geo News reported citing Arab media, in what comes as Damascus translating its prior warnings into reality.

The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) made "an agreement with one of the rebel groups to surrender the town of Dumayr in the eastern Qalamoun", following which it launched the attack in a bid to force other rebels to lay down their weapons, Al-Masdar News reported.

Assad prepares to assault last rebel enclave near Damascus

Assad has benefited from Russian air power since 2015 to regain large swathes of Syria, putting him in his strongest position since the early months of the seven-year-old war

The publication, citing a Syrian military official, said: "Jaysh Tahrir Al-Sham refused to surrender their positions or reconcile with the Syrian government".

The goal of the attack was to recapture Batra Mountain alongside Al-Nassiriyah.