State media footage showed Assad having dinner with soldiers and pro-government fighters in the neighbourhood of Jobar on Wednesday night.

The neighbourhood has witnessed intense fighting over the past months between troops and terrorists.

The footage, aired on Thursday, showed Assad shaking hands and kissing troops, walking into fortifications and climbing onto a tank.

Syrian President Bashar Assad has praised army soldiers over their victories against terrorist groups operating in the Arab country.

"If there was an area of joy which remained in Syria, it is thanks to the victories that you achieved in the face of terrorism," Assad told troops during this visit.

Over the past months, Syrian soldiers have made numerous gains in the battle against the foreign-sponsored militants, inflicting heavy losses on them in several areas.

Syria has been grappling with a deadly conflict since March 2011. The violence fueled by Takfiri groups has so far claimed the lives of over 200,000 people, according to reports.