On February 18, artillery units and rocket launchers of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and the Tiger Forces shelled dozens of positions of Jaysh al-Islam, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Ahrar al-Sham Movement and Faylaq al-Rahman in the districts and towns of Nashabiyah, Tel Ferzat, Mesraba, Hawsh Ashari, Autaya, Eyen Tarma, Irbin, Harasta and Jobar in the Eastern Ghouta region, according to Syrian pro-government sources.
Warplanes of the Syrian Arab Air Force (SyAAF) conducted a series of airstrikes on several ammo depots, headquarters and fortifications of the opposition forces in the southern part of Eastern Ghouta.
These strikes are likely the first phase of the long-awaited military operation to clear the Eastern Ghouta pocket from militants. On February 17, several units of the Tiger Forces and other pro-government forces were deployed around Eastern Ghouta.
The SAA and the Tiger Forces will likely launch their ground attack on the southern part of the Eastern Ghouta region in upcoming days, according to Syrian pro-government activists.


