AhlulBayt News Agency - In the summer of 2012, the Syrian capital was abruptly embroiled to the Syrian war due to a massive rebel offensive which was launched from the surrounding countryside and effectively saw insurgents capture close to 40% of the Damascus.
Nevertheless, the armed Syrian Opposition has gradually been losing ground since late 2014; Now, rebel forces are isolated into several pockets across the southern suburbs and eastern countryside of Damascus.
With over 50.000 government troops enforcing the siege on insurgent-held areas of Damascus, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) is currently conducting two separate offensives in the largely rebel controlled East Ghouta.
One government attack aims at slicing through a rebel-held area in the southern pocket of East Ghouta while the other offensive looks to obstruct insurgent logistics around the Islamist stronghold of Douma in northern part of East Ghouta.
Meanwhile, Islamist rebels are still present in the suburbs of Moadamiya, Darayya, Hajar al-Aswad and Yarmouk; the latter has almost entirely been captured by ISIS fighters.
Due to ongoing government advances in Damascus, rebels now control less than half the territory they previously did. Subsequently, the SAA has reestablished stability in the vast majority of districts inside the Syrian capital.
If the SAA should one day capture all of Damascus, this would notably free up tens of thousands of troops for other frontlines, such as the ongoing offensive against ISIS east of Palmyra.
/129
