Syrian army, allies liberate entire southeastern Damascus countryside

Rasa - Syrian army forces, supported by allied fighters from popular defense groups, have established control over the southeastern outskirts of the capital Damascus, driving foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants out of the strategic area.

News ID: 433030

Date: 10 October 2017 - 20:29

RNA - Syria’s Joint Operations Command announced in a statement on Tuesday that Syrian troops and their allies had liberated 8,000 square kilometers of territory from the clutches of terrorists, Syria’s official news agency SANA reported.

Syrian forces also regained control over all the hilltops on the border with Jordan.

Russian airstrikes destroy Daesh command center, kill 70 terrorists

Meanwhile, Russian fighter jets have destroyed a Daesh command center in Syria's eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr and killed dozens of Takfiri militants.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said on Tuesday that Russian military aircraft have carried out 182 airstrikes against Daesh terrorists in Syria over the past 24 hours, killing a total of 70 Daesh terrorists in the process.

Konashenkov added that the slain militants came from Central Asian countries and Algeria.

“A Daesh command post and three groups of terrorists, who had arrived in the area from the Iraqi territory as reinforcement were eliminated. The killing of 34 militants, and destruction of five pickup trucks equipped with large-caliber launchers plus two vehicles loaded with munitions been confirmed,” the senior Russian military official pointed out.

Konashenkov further noted that the airstrikes took place near the village of Hatla, located along the Euphrates River and southeast of Dayr al-Zawr.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on October 5 that the Black Sea Fleet’s submarines Veliky Novgorod and Kolpino had delivered two strikes outside the city of Mayadin, located about 44 kilometers southeast of Dayr al-Zawr, using ten Kalibr cruise missiles.

Konashenkov stated that the submarines fired the missiles while submerged.

“Daesh terrorist group in Mayadin suffered significant damage, both in manpower and hardware,” he said.

Konashenkov further noted that Russian air and naval forces will continue to support the Syrian army’s offensive aimed at purging Daesh terrorist group out of Dayr al-Zawr Province.

Since 2015, Russia has been conducting aerial attacks against terrorist positions in Syria at a request from the Syrian government.

Backed by Russian air power, Syrian ground forces have managed to make numerous gains against terrorists on various fronts.

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