On September 9, heavy clashes and artillery duels erupted between the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and Faylaq al-Rahman in Jobar district and Ayn Tarma area east of the Syrian capital of Damascus.
This could mean that the de-escalation agreement in the Eastern Ghouta region between the SAA and Faylaq al-Rahman came to its end just as expected.
Faylaq al-Rahman announced that it ambushed a unit of the SAA 4th Armoured Division in Jobar district. Faylaq al-Rahman claimed that 15 SAA soldiers were killed in the ambush.
Faylaq al-Rahman justified its attack claiming that the SAA was planning to attack its position in Jobar district.
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From its side, the SAA shelled Faylaq al-Rahman positions in Ayn Tarma area with dozens of Syrian-made Volcano and Golan heavy rockets.
However, Syrian warplanes didn’t conduct any airstrikes against Faylaq al-Rahman in what could be a last effort to save the de-escalation agreement.
On August 18, representatives of Faylaq al-Rahman and Russian officials signed the de-escalation agreement that included the areas under Faylaq al-Rahman control in Eastern Ghouta.
From day one many pro-government experts doubted that Faylaq al-Rahman would commit to such agreement due to its strong relationships with Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
If the de-escalation agreement fully collapses, the SAA might launch a large offensive to capture Jobar and Ayn Tarma, and maybe even to eliminate Faylaq al-Rahman in the area.
