RNA - The army units engaged in tough battle with the terrorists in Eastern Damascus after destroying the defense lines of the terrorists there and managed to capture another strategic area there.
The Syrian troops killed several terrorists and injured many more in fierce clashes over controlling of the strategic regions. They also destroyed military equipment of the terrorists.
The Syrian army also continued its advances in other key provinces across Syria.
Damascus
The Syrian Army forces continued their nightly operations in Eastern Ghouta and pushed terrorists back from one more key point, expanding the security zone around its positions on Thursday night and early Friday.
The army men stormed terrorists' positions on Thursday night and managed to impose control over al-Aftaris air defense battalion base Southeast of al-Aftarin settlement.
Also, the army men deployed in al-Mohammadiyeh settlement managed to advance one kilometer toward Jesrin settlement and captured the nearby farms.
The army soldiers tightened the noose of the terrorists in al-Aftarin and inched closer to anther key settlement, namely Hamouriyeh.
A military source reported that the army units reinvigorated security to the strategic al-Mohammadiyeh that was the scene of terrorists' heavy attacks after the government forces' control over Hawsh al-Ash'ari and Hawsh Qabibat.
Hundreds of forces called "ISIL Hunters", trained by Russia, were sent on Thursday to Eastern Ghouta of Damascus to continue military operation in the region along with the Syrian army.
At least 700 Special Forces were sent to the frontlines of clashes against the ISIL in Eastern Ghouta. Damascus has also dispatched new military equipment to be used in military operations in the region.
The ISIL Hunters, trained by Russia, had earlier participated in operations against the terrorists in Palmyra and Deir Ezzur and helped the army in the liberation of many regions.
A military source said that the Syrian army was attempting to split Ghouta into two parts in coming days.
He added that the army reached areas near the town of Douma after liberation of Beit Sawa and Mesraba and seeks to separate Douma in Northern Ghouta from Harasta in the West to tighten noose on the terrorists.
Aleppo
The Turkish Army troops and Free Syrian Army (FSA) captured another village in Syria's Northwestern Afrin and took control of a strategic dam.
Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency said that the Turkish troops and the FSA captured the Kurdish-held village of Hallubi Kabir in Afrin's Northeast, and took control of a dam which supplies water to Azaz and Afrin regions.
The Western part of the dam, however, is still under the control of the Kurds, it added.
According to Fars News Agency, the dam, known as April 17 Dam, is the only source that provides clean water and electricity to Afrin.
Since the beginning of Ankara's Operation Olive Branch on January 20, the Turkish military and the FSA have captured 161 locations, including five town centers, 124 villages and 31 strategic areas.
Idlib
A sum of 1,055 displaced people returned home in Aleppo after Iranian, Russian and Turkish mediators paved the ground for their safe return from Idlib province, Head of the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syrian Major-General Yuri Yevtushenko announced on Friday.
The Russian general said that a sum of 1,055 people left Idlib for their home in Aleppo via the humanitarian corridors in last 3 days.
He further said that the displaced people arrived home in Aleppo safely thanks to the joint efforts of Moscow, Tehran and Ankara, adding that the trilateral efforts are restoring stability to Idlib again.
The Russian general said that over 1,300,000 displaced Syrians have returned home in different locations across the war-hit country.
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