Syrian army advances to Zamalka Bridge, closing in on the remaining terrorists in Jobar

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18/10/2014

Damascus Countryside, SANA – As the Syrian Arab Army continues its operations against terrorist hideouts and concentrations in various points in Jobar neighborhood, it managed to establish control over a large area, around 1 kilometer long and half a kilometer wide, of the northeastern perimeter of Jobar extending from the bus stop area to Zamalka Bridge.

With this, the army managed to close in on terrorists in Jobar and isolate them from supply lines coming from Zamalka and Erbin in the Eastern Ghouta area of Damascus Countryside.

The military operation in Jobar was of a very particular nature, as terrorist were employing a complex networks of tunnels and rigged everything they could get their hands on with explosives, including furniture in houses.

The main goal of the army’s field commanders was reaching Tibeh Mosque, the headquarters of the terrorists, and establishing control over it, and this took place in mere hours and the army advanced further up to Zamalka Bridge, which means that the operation in Jobar should be concluded soon.

A field commander said that the operations in this area were “from wall to wall and from room to room within every single building,” noting that the nature of the combat changed in each street and alley, and that the goal of each single operation was to secure evacuation and supplies, with the army establishing cover between buildings to counteract snipers.

The commander said that Tibeh Mosque was used as the main headquarters of the so-called “Islam Army” terrorist group and was their first line of defense, having been surrounded by fortifications, equipped with surveillance cameras, and had its perimeter rigged with explosives, not to mention a network of tunnels beneath extending west, east, and south, but despite that the army managed to take control of the Mosque within a few hours, which dealt a severe blow to terrorists’ morale.

The commander went on to say that after the Mosque, the army advanced towards Fatineh tower, which terrorists had rigged with explosives and detonated before the army could get to it and use it as a vantage point.

He added that IEDs in their various forms were one of the main obstacles in the area, but engineering units managed to dismantle and neutralize them, noting that terrorists rigged everything they could find with explosives, including the streets, building entrances, furniture, doors, and wardrobes.

The commander said that the area around the Mosque was difficult to deal with, due to the presence of tunnels and IEDs, in addition to trenches where snipers and terrorists carrying RPGs, but the army’s infantry units and fire support managed to break through the terrorists’ defensive perimeter and advance.

He said that the tunnels slowed the army’s progressive, as there were entire terrorist hideouts and bases underground, with some tunnels opening up into trenches, while others extended deep under buildings, with the terrorists scurrying through these terrorists to escape the army’s attacks and open escape and supply routes, but the army managed to uncover all the tunnels and destroy them with explosives.

By reaching Zamalka Bridge, the army has now established control of over 50% of Jobar, and with the terrorists’ defense lines in disarray and as the army keeps advancing and encircling the terrorists, field commanders expect the operation in Jobar to be nearly over, putting an end to a complex and barbaric chapter of terrorism.

Hazem Sabbagh