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Syrian army forces strike last militant stronghold near Damascus
[Iran Press TV] Syrian government forces have intensified shelling and Arclight airstrikes on the last holy warrior stronghold near the capital city of Damascus as army soldiers and allied fighters from popular defense groups continue to make territorial gains against foreign-sponsored holy warrior groups across the war-battered country.

Local sources said elite units of the army, positioned on the strategic Mount Qasioun that overlooks Damascus, struck Jobar district, located some 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) east of the Old City walls, as well as Ain Terma suburb, located 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) east of Old Damascus.

Syrian army troops also struck holy warrior outposts in Zamalka, located 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) northeast of Old Damascus, Harasta city and Kafr Batna town.

Abu Obada al-Shami, a commander from the Takfiri
...an adherent of takfir wal hijra, an offshoot of Salafism that regards everybody who doesn't agree with them as apostates who must be killed...
 Faylaq al-Rahman holy warrior group, said the holy warriors had dug tunnels and fortified their positions in the Eastern Ghouta district in a bid to impede the government forces’ advance.

Meanwhile,
...back at the precinct house, Sergeant Maloney wasn't buying it. It was just too pat. The whole thing smelled phony, kind of like a dead mackeral but without the scales...
 Syrian Air Force jets bombarded ISIS positions in al-Bawlieh Mountain, Ma'adan subdistrict, al-Khamaiseh, al-Jaber and al-Numaisa districts south of the northern city of Raqqah.

Elsewhere in Salamiyah district of the central province of Hama, Syrian military aircraft pounded ISIS position, inflicting heavy losses on their ranks.
Abuot those tunnels, Al Masdar adds:
Today, a group of 12 militants were stuck inside a tunnel they were using in Ayn Tarma after the government troops blew up the only exit.

Fierce firelight erupted as the disparate militants – who all belong to the al-Qaeda offshoot in Syria Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham – attempted to make their way out. However, the Army troops killed 9 rebel fighters and captured 3 alive.

Jaysh Al-Islam resumes offensive against former allies in East Ghouta

[AlMasdar] Jaysh Al-Islam launched a powerful attack inside the East Ghouta region of Damascus this morning, targeting Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham’s positions at the Al-Asha’ri Farms.

According to opposition media activists, Jaysh Al-Islam stormed the Al-Asha’ri Farms this morning, capturing several sites in the area, including the Asha’ri school and mosque.

Intense clashes are ongoing at the moment, with Jaysh Al-Islam still on the offensive against their former allies from Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham.

Jaysh Al-Islam announced that they will continue this operation against Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham until the East Ghouta is completely cleansed of the group.
Posted by: Fred 2017-08-08
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=494510