On Thursday, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) advanced in the Ayn Tarma area in eastern Damascus. According to pro-government sources, the SAA took control of several buildings and strategic points in the vicinity of Al-Sanabel gas station in eastern Ayn Tarma.
The SAA reportedly reached the Ayn Tarma Roundabout and imposed a fire control over it. This roundabout is an important location for control over entire Ayn Tarma.
Syrian and Russian Air Force warplanes continued bombing positions of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and Faylaq al-Rahman in both Jobar district and Ayn Tarma. The SAA managed to down a drone of the militants over Jobar district.
A photo from Jobar district shows what appears to be equipment and weapons of the Russian Special Operations Forces. According to some sources, the Russian Special Forces including snipers are believed to be supporting the SAA in this operation. This theory is supported by the participation of Russian Air Force warplanes. It is logical to have Russian special forces on the ground to guide warplanes.
From its side, Faylaq al-Rahman claimed that it managed to destroy a bulldozer of the SAA with an ATGM in Ayn Tarma. It also claimed to destroy a SAA tank in Jobar district.
#فيلق_الرحمن تدمير دبابة تابعة لقوات #الأسد على جبهة حي #جوبر الدمشقي. https://t.co/Nx95k6ovhP pic.twitter.com/7cbEOSgzzh
— فيلق الرحمن (@Alrahmancorps4) 28 June 2017
Faylaq al-Rahman reportedly suffers from a shortage of ammunition and supplies. This may mean that Faylaq al-Rahman may withdraw again from Jobar and Ayn Tarma as previously the group withdrew from Qaboun and Barza.
