Syria’s Assad visits troops on Ghouta’s front line

DAMASCUS: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad visited troops on Sunday on the front line in the newly captured areas of eastern Ghouta, near the capital Damascus, hailing their recent advances as a part of a larger battle against global terrorism. Standing in a neighbourhood street, Assad congratulated his troops during the visit broadcast on state-run Al-Ikhbariya TV. Syria’s government views all its opposition as terrorists. Assad’s visit comes on the week the war enters its eighth year.