Syrian army, militants clash ahead of Geneva peace talks
Heavy clashes have continued between the Syrian government forces and the Takfiri militants near the capital Damascus and north of Hama ahead of the UN-led peace talks, which are about to begin in Geneva.
The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Thursday the clashes between the Syrian forces and the militants around the industrial zone in Jobar district in the northeastern suburbs of Damascus have intensified after midnight.
Jobar separates Eastern Ghouta, which holds large concentrations of Takfiri terrorists, from Damascus.
A military media unit run by the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement, whose fighters are helping the Syrian army, also reported fighting early on Thursday in the district as well as a heavy bombardment against terrorist positions and movements in the area.
Militants have been trying for years to break into the heart of Damascus, but they have failed to do so amid stiff resistance from government forces.
The clashes are taking place despite a truce which has been in place across Syria since last December. The ceasefire does not include the Takfiri terrorists of Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and Daesh.
The fighting comes as Syrian government and opposition delegations are set to attend a new round of peace talks in Geneva, Switzerland, later in the day.
The Britain-based monitoring group also claimed that militants led by Tahrir al-Sham, which includes the former al-Qaeda branch in Syria, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, captured more than 11 towns and villages in the first 24 hours of their offensive that began late on Tuesday.
The Syrian army has not made any comments on the report so far.
Militant groups fighting under the banner of the so-called Free Syrian Army are reportedly involved in the offensive.
The observatory also claimed that the militants are a few kilometers away from Hama city, adding that fighting is ongoing on Thursday.
A Syrian military source reportedly said on Wednesday that reinforcements were headed to the Hama front.
Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The UN envoy for Syria estimates that over 400,000 people have been killed in the conflict.
US occupation forces in Iraq, Syria hit in two separate attacks in 24 hours
Missiles, drone hit two US military bases in eastern Syria
US capitalizing on Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza: Assad
VIDEO | UK govt. Rwanda bill denounced as 'state-sponsored people trafficking'
VIDEO | Iran president visits Lahore, Pakistan’s cultural hub
North Korea: US military drills drive regional security into turmoil
UN agency chief for Palestinians urges probe into staff killings
200 days of Israeli war on Gaza and 200 headlines whitewashing genocide
VIDEO | 200 days of US-Israeli genocide
Iran’s security chief in Russia to underline Israel’s aggression
VIDEO | Smoke rises from Gaza as fighting continues
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
