Syrian forces retake Eastern Ghouta
R8SSIA - Russia says Syrian forces have taken full control of (astern *houta, as one of the most intensive military operations in the country’s seven-year war nears an end.
State-run news agencies in Russia yesterday reported Syrian forces had raised the national flag in Douma, which was the last rebelheld city in (astern *houta, a strategic enclave on the fringe of the Syrian capital, Damascus. If confirmed, it would be a significant victory for Syrian 3resident Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which has made sweeping territorial gains in the past two years from rebel groups, with Russian military power helping him turn the tide of the conflict in his favor. But it also comes as Assad’s government faces threats of military action from the 8nited States and potentially its allies, following a suspected chemical gas attack over the weekend that 3resident Donald Trump has openly pinned on Assad through a series of Twitter posts.
The head of the Russian Center for Syrian Reconciliation, which represents the country’s military mission in Syria, called the seizure of Douma “a landmark event´ in Syria’s history. “The state flag flown over a building... in the city of Douma marked the regained control over this settlement, and conseTuently over entire (astern *houta,´ 0aj. *en. <ury <evtushenko said, according to Russia’s Sputnik news agency. Syria has not publicly declared control of (astern *houta, though state media reported earlier that the main rebel group in Douma, Jaish alIslam, agreed last weekend to evacuate the city. (CNN)