Alalam – Syria
Meanwhile Syrian Army troops that liberated the village of Basimeh a few hours ago have started to carry out mop-up operations in the village and its surroundings to hunt the rest of militants.
The army men that took full control of the entire village of Basimeh in Wadi al-Bardi (Wadi Barada), are now carrying out sweeping operations to clear Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) and booby-trapped bombs planted by militants and meantime hunt the rest of militants in the village.
The army soldiers are also providing security for the civilians in the village of Busujima, providing urgent humanitarian assistance to them.
Reports indicated that the militants are also retreating from Ein al-Khazra and Ein al-Feija in the Wadi al-Bardi region.
Reports said earlier today that the Syrian army launched another powerful assault on the positions of Fatah al-Sham Front (previously known as the al-Nusra Front) in the Wadi al-Bardi, taking control over a key village in Western Ghouta.
In late December, terrorists blew up a water pipeline in the Wadi Barada area, which was used to supply the Syrian capital with drinking water. Al-Nusra Front militants also seized the Ain al-Fija water pumping station.
On Wednesday, January 11, the Damascus province governor said agreements had been reached with militants for engineers to access the Ain al-Fija facilities and on repair of the water pipeline in Barada Valley.
Al-Ikhbariya reported Friday citing the Rif Damascus governor that engineers had been allowed to enter the facilities in Ain al-Fija, and water supply would be restored in full soon.
A source told Sputnik Thursday that the Syrian army would continue the military operation in Barada Valley until militants started honoring the reached agreements.
The army soldiers broke-through Fatah al-Sham's defense lines on Thursday, seizing the villages of Basimeh after a violent battle with the militants.
With Basimeh under their control, the army reached the gates of the al-Fijah Springs, marking the first time in several years that the government has had any presence at the site.