Syria, Hezbollah tighten noose on Takfiris in Zabadani

Iran Press TV

Wed Jul 22, 2015 2:30PM

Syrian troops and Hezbollah resistance fighters have tightened their siege on terrorists holed up in the southwestern town of Zabadani, purging the Takfiri elements from their last positions in the area.

Syria's official SANA news agency said Wednesday that the allied forces have managed to destroy a major supply line of the militants south of Zabadani.

The report said that a 70-meter-long tunnel, which facilitated the militants' movement to the neighboring Madhaya city, was completely destroyed in the operation. Militants reportedly used the tunnel as a major corridor for transferring weapons and forces into Zabadani.

The destruction of the tunnel came just a day after Syrian forces and Hezbollah resistance fighters made significant advances in their fight against terrorists belonging to the al-Qaeda-affilated al-Nusra Front in the area by seizing control of the Zabadani's all southern entrances.

The allied forces have already established full control over plains known as Sahl Zabadani, which is located around 45 kilometers north of the capital Damascus. The highly strategic region along Syria's border with Lebanon is also home to lakes and basins which supply water to the urban population in the Syrian capital.

The gains on Tuesday further encircles the militants in central parts of Zabdani as the allied forces have managed to liberate some strategic locations south and east of the town over the past two weeks.

Army gains new ground

Elsewhere on the battlefield, government forces reportedly destroyed major artillery posts belonging to the extremist militants on the outskirts of the northwestern city of Idlib earlier Tuesday.

Other reports said Syrian forces attacked a convoy of foreign-backed militants in the northeastern city of Hasakah, with no immediate reports on potential casualties.

Syrian army units also launched a lightening offensive against militants in al-Ghoweran neighborhood, south of Hasakah, killing scores of terrorists and destroying their hideouts in the area.

SANA also said that many Nusra Front terrorists were killed in an army operation in the southern province of Quneitra. The report said that eight more terrorists, including a Saudi national, were killed in another offensive by Syrian forces into Ebta'a city in neighboring Dara'a Province.