The Syrian army decided to launch an attack to clear out the district of Jdeidet al-Fadel in response to repeated calls for help from civilians who have suffered so much since rebels stormed the district few weeks ago.

The district is known to support the Syrian government. Residents said family members were being murdered. And more than 20 soldier and 50 civilians were reported kidnapped in the district by the rebels.

First the army had to deal with snipers who were deployed all over the district in homes in residential areas. Some of the homes involved had been abandoned others had been taken by force as a base for snipers.

Two officers and many soldiers had been killed by these snipers. Residents in the area provided information about the hideouts, which proved very useful.

After getting rid of most of the snipers, the army started to enter the area's four districts one at a time. Soon afterwards, very fierce clashes broke out. More than 80 rebels were killed.

On the second day another officer was injured and many soldiers were killed, but about 40 rebels were also killed.

The rebels began to retreat and the Syrian army advanced into the third section of the district – the most dangerous. That was where most of the rebels had pulled back to.

The army began using artillery and tanks. More than 70 rebels were killed and many others arrested.

Then the army began to comb the fourth section where soldiers found a mass grave. Rebels claimed a massacre was committed, but it was a grave for dead rebels and civilians and troops that they had killed.

As the army started excavating the mass grave, rebels started firing RPGs and mortar rounds. The Syrian army responded with artillery and tank fire. During the attack the Syrian army killed a notorious terrorists called Muhammed Jameel Noufel. It also confiscated many weapons left by the rebels.

The rebels always commit massacres themselves to try to pin the blame on the army. They burned the bodies to cover up their crimes.