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| Southern Damascus: the reconquest continues, with hundreds dead on both sides after 1st week |
| 2018-04-27 |
| SAA unleashes ground-to-ground offensive on IS positions south of Damascus – reports [AlMasdar] The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) reportedly launched Golan 1000 ground-to-ground missiles on Wednesday to further its offensive on targets in the district of Hajar al-Aswad, south of Damascus, against the remaining members of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) still in the capital’s suburbs. Footage also showed foot soldier units employing intensive gunfire and moving in on targets. The offensive comes after the Syrian military announced the full recapture of Eastern Ghouta from militants late last month. Drone footage shows Syrian Army operation in southern Damascus [AlMasdar] The Syrian forces intensify its offensive on districts in southern Damascus as the Islamic State desperately defends its last foothold outside the capital. Constant shelling with artillery and missiles, non-stop airstrikes as well as continuous firefights could be heard around the clock as the Syrian government is determined to re-take the last insurgent-controlled area outside Damascus. Drone footage published by the state-run TV channel shows part of the ferocious military operation in al-Mazniyah neighborhood of the Tadamun district before the Army troops establish full control over the area. The footage also features a group of retreated ISIS militants completely annihilated when the Army hit the buildings they were hiding inside. In Pictures: Syrian Army tank VS ISIS jihadists [AlMasdar] Fierce urban warfare is currently taking place in districts still held by the Islamic State in southern Damascus. A standoff was hilariously caught in camera between a Syrian Army tank and a group of ISIS militants in al-Jourah orchards of Qadam district. The extremist militants came out of a tunnel inside one of the buildings with the aim to curb the Army incursion. However, those were successfully spotted by the tank crew who immediately handled the situation with a direct and precise shot. Update: Syrian Army punches its way forward in south Damascus, advances against ISIS from multiple directions [AlMasdar] The Syrian Army and allied paramilitary forces have scored another series of advances against Islamic State militants in southern Damascus, gaining ground in the district of Hajjar al-Aswad. Sources report that in the Ma’adhiyah neighborhood, government troops backed by armor, artillery and airstrikes captured locations in the local industrial area, including a scrapyard and several nearby factory buildings. Moreover, the Syrian Army has seized at least a dozen buildings inside the neighborhood of Al-Jorah, marking its official entry into the residential area after the local orchards were captured two days ago. According to Al-Masdar News journalist Ibrahim Joudeh, the Syrian Army is yet to make a dedicated push in the district of Yarmouk Camp, with the elite Tiger Forces Division still amassing on this axis. Updates to follow. WATCH: Syrian warplanes carpet bomb ISIS in south Damascus whilst army rocket forces unleash unrelenting barrage [AlMasdar] More video footage (below) has emerged showing the ongoing bombardment of ISIS-held areas of southern Damascus by Syrian government warplanes and rocket artillery. The footage shows the moment an Su-22M fighter-bomber drops at least eight 500-pound bombs on Islamic State tactical positions several hundred meters behind the frontline in the Hajjar al-Aswad district. At the same time, more footage of rocket attacks by Goulan batteries of the 4th Mechanized Division is shown – such shelling being non-stop for the last week. Despite several large probing attacks that have netted modest gains against ISIS in some areas of southern Damascus, the main blow of the Syrian Army’s offensive is yet to be delivered – a strike that will most likely be initiated by the elite Tiger Force Division. Update: Syrian Army, ISIS both suffer very heavy losses in south Damascus battle – statistics [AlMasdar] Both Syrian Army and Islamic State ranks have sustained major losses since government forces kicked-off their southern Damascus operation one week ago. Despite the fact that the battle so far has only consisted of Syrian government forces bombarding ISIS positions and conducting several large probing assaults that have resulted in small gains, the loss of life among troops and militants alike runs into the hundreds. In the last four days alone, the Syrian Army and allied paramilitary forces have reportedly lost in excess of one hundred men killed in action. For Islamic State ranks over the last week, the battle toll amounts to at least two hundred fighters killed in action – half of them from relentless shelling and airstrikes. As per most battles that have taken place in the Damascus city area since the start of the Syrian conflict, the latest government offensive against ISIS-held districts south of the capital has already proven to be extremely costly for both sides; despite this, the main blow of the operation is yet to be delivered. |
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