The Syrian army now has the whole of the capital under its control, a brigadier-general on Saturday told journalists visiting the neighborhood of Tadamun, the scene of heavy fighting... as opposed to the more usual light or desultory fighting...
earlier.
"We have cleansed all the districts of Damascus
...Home to a staggering array of terrorist organizations...
, from Al-Midan to Mazzeh, from Al-Hajar Al-Aswad to Qadam... to Tadamun," said the general who led the military operation in Tadamun, refusing to give his name.
The officer said regime forces retook the southern district at 2:00 pm (11:00 GMT) on Saturday, and that it was the last rebel bastion in the city to revert to army hands.
Fighting erupted in Damascus on July 15 and raged for several days as rebels seized several districts, forcing thousands of residents to flee for safety from what had for many months been the country's safest city.
"The situation in Damascus is excellent and stable," the general said.
"There is no more presence of gangs apart for some individuals who are moving from one place to another, just to prove that they exist."
When festivities erupted earlier on Saturday in Tadamun, the scene of heavy fighting
... as opposed to the more usual light or desultory fighting...
a fortnight ago, Syrian state television
... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
said: "The special forces were cleansing the district of Tadamun from terrorists."