Syrian Army Regains Initiative In Eastern Damascus (Photos, Video)

Syrian Army Regains Initiative In Eastern Damascus (Photos, Video)

UR-77 Meteorit system is in action in eastern Damascus

The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) regained the initiative in eastern Damascus days after Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies had launched an attack in the neighborhood of Jobar on March 19, 2017.

This morning the SAA recaptured the textile factory in the Qabun industrial area according to media reports. Thus, the SAA got back a majority of the points lost to militants at the beginning of the attack.

Government forces are advancing in Jobar:

The Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAF) intensified its airstrikes against military targets in the militant-held part of the Jobar neighborhood. The SAAF used Su-22m3 bombers known by their excellent performance at low altitude.

The SAA’s Republican Guard returned to use “Golan 400” launchers (mostly used against targets inside the Qawbun pocket) and a UR-77 Meteorit system to target militant reinforcements and targets at the front lines.

A fresh photo of “Golan 400” launchers in eastern Damascus:

Syrian Army Regains Initiative In Eastern Damascus (Photos, Video)

Click to see the full-size image

An old video shows how the UR-77 Meteorit system works:

In turn, HTS fighters use mortars and “hell cannons” against the government-held neighborhoods, causing material damage and injuring many non-combatants, including a correspondent of the Syrian state-run news agency ‘SANA’.

Pro-SAA media outlets announced that more than 150 HTS militants were killed in the recent clashes. Many of the killed militants were allies.

It was also reported that SAA snipers killed several gunmen of HTS during their withdrawal from the textile plant area.

Syrian Army Regains Initiative In Eastern Damascus (Photos, Video)

Click to see the full-size map

The whole militant operation is aimed at breaking the Syrian army’s siege on the area of Qaboun and opening a corridor from it to Jobar.

Initially, HTS and allies successfully used the surprise element, but they failed to develop momentum in the captured areas. Likely, militants just underestimated the Republican Guard’s defensive capabilities in the area.

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Lotr Tales

No article about large scale Hama offensive today…

Jakke1899

To the people of Southfront:would it be possible to make a joint Syria-Iraq map? Since ISIS doesn’t recognize the Sykes-Picot borders, such a map would give an even better view of the situation.

Thegr8rambino

SAA needs to COMPLETELY FUCK UP THESE BASTARDS!!! BE FEROCIOUS FIERCE DEADLY!!!! MAKE THEM SCARED SHITLESS!!!!

Xanatos

Previously, the qaboun pocket was protected by a ceasefire agreement. They were connected to eat ghouta by a network of tunnels, thru which they sent supplies and reinforcements. Qaboun was supplied by foreign governments via lebanon.

In March , fresh off their success in securing the barada canyon , source of damascus water supply, the SAA attacked qaboun and discovered massive tunnels, sone wide enough to drive vehicles thru. They blew it up, causing panic in East ghouta.

Militants put aside their differences and starated this assault in Damascus to link with Qaboun.

The lesson is every pocket protected by a cease fire agreement is secretly violating it. They all need to be destroyed.