Syrian army makes major advances in Damascus

The Syrian army made major advances in a strategic city in Al-Qalamoun region in Damascus countryside. The army units advanced in Al-Zobdani town near the borders with Lebanon after their successful mop-up operations in mountainous areas of Rankus and Seydana and Al-Tayour hills in the Southern parts of Rankus. Also in the past 24 hours, the foreign-backed militants disclosed the what type of weapons they have used against the Syrian army in Al-Qalamoun region. Amer Al-Qalamouni, spokesman of the Free Syrian Army admitted that the FSA militants have used MILAN missiles against the army. MILAN (anti-tank light infantry missile) is a European anti-tank guided missile. Also, the Syrian army carried out successful operations against the armed groups across the country over the past 24 hours. Army regained full control over the Eastern mountains overlooking Rankous plain in al-Qalamoun, Damascus countryside, including Talet Ra’as Tahoun al-Hawa and Tadmour, headquarters of militant groups’ leaders in the plain and al-Mahabeh villages. The army also killed a number of militants and destroyed their weapons and equipment. Also, a military source said that the army units targeted members of a militant group who were planting explosive devices between military checkpoints on Syrian-Jordanian borders, killing and injuring many of them, in addition to dismantling a number of explosive devices. Meantime, a military source said that army units inflected heavy losses upon the armed groups, killing and wounding a number of militants in al-Rastan, Talbiseh, Eyoun Hussein, al-Ameriyeh, al-Dar al-Kabira and al-Dwair in Homs countryside. A military source said that army units has killed and injured a large number of terrorists affiliated to the so-called Ahrar al-Sham in Kafr Rohin, al-Dabsheh and Talab to the South of Abu al-Dhour town in Idlib countryside. The military source told the Syrian state news agency that army units killed scores of terrorists and seized their weapons and communication devices in al-Arbaen Mountain in Idlib countryside. Elsewhere, units of the Syrian army eliminated scores of militants and destroyed their dens and gatherings in several areas in Aleppo countryside. A military source said that army units targeted militants' gatherings surrounding the central prison and the industrial city, al-Lairamon, al-Kastilo, Dahret Abd Rabbo, al-Marjah, Khan Touma and Arbid and they inflicted heavy losses on the militants. Also, new reports disclosed that Ankara has worked with the US and Britain to smuggle Gaddafi's guns to rebel groups in Syria. US Secretary of State John Kerry and its UN ambassador Samantha Power have been pushing for more assistance to be given to the Syrian rebels. This is despite strong evidence that the Syrian armed opposition are more than ever dominated by jihadi fighters similar in their beliefs and methods to al-Qaeda. The recent attack by rebel forces around Lattakia, Northern Syria, which initially had a measure of success, was led by Chechen and Moroccan Jihadis, The Independent reported. Meantime, the Syrian army launched fresh operations in Rankus in al-Qalamoun region of Damascus countryside and discovered the tunnels which were used by the militants for smuggling military equipment. The army units continued their advances in Rankus, Meliha town and other parts of the Damascus countryside where they found a network of tunnels used by the militants for supplying ammunition and other military equipment to other parts of Syria. Elsewhere, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the Al-Nusra Front continued their fierce clashes in Deir Ezzur province on Sunday. The city of Albu Kamal in Deir Ezzur was the scene of heavy clashes between the ISIL and the Al-Nusra Front.     ?