Fresh clashes were reported in Qaboun, where insurgents increased their attacks on the congested civilian areas, to break army’s protective ring around the capital.

According to our reporter, army soldiers foiled an attempt by militants trying to enter Damascus from Joubar industrial district on Tuesday.

There are groups of insurgents hiding in different parts of Joubar and army’s mop-up operations are still underway in this area.

Operations in Rif Dimashq are strategically important due to its closeness to the capital Damascus, congested texture of the neighborhoods and the fact that there are many buildings which are occupied by terrorists who use their residents as human shields to hinder army advancements.

An army commander told our reporter that soldiers are searching the whole area door-by-door to capture terrorists.

The army has also managed to block all the main access routes to the capital to stop flow of arms and more insurgents to Rif Dimashq.

Insurgents posted online videos showing them firing rockets at several neighborhoods in Qaboun.

Soldiers have helped people evacuate more dangerous areas targeted by militants; however there are still many people who are abducted and held by militants in different buildings.

The conflict in Syria started in March 2011, when pro-reform protests turned into a massive insurgency following the intervention of Western and regional states.

The unrest, which took in terrorist groups from across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, has transpired as one of the bloodiest conflicts in recent history.

As the foreign-backed insurgency in Syria continues without an end in sight, the US government has boosted its political and military support to Takfiri extremists.

Washington has remained indifferent about warnings by Russia and other world powers about the consequences of arming militant groups.

SHI/SHI