The Syrian Arab Army’s 105th Brigade of the Republican Guard has captured two villages in the strategic rural area of the East Ghouta, killing scores of militants and destroying a network of tunnels leading to Tal Kurdi. Earlier today, the villages of Al-Mayda’a and Hawash Al-Farah were captured by the 105th Brigade after 48 hours of violent fights with Jaysh Al-Islam militants. The two villages are located in the northeast corner of the East Ghouta, bordering the village of Tal Kurdi to the east.

According to a military source, 23 militants from Jaysh Al-Islam have been confirmed killed-in-action (KIA) by the 105th Brigade at Hawash Al-Farah; while, another 19 militants were counted at Al-Mayda’a. The source also added that the 105th Brigade suffered 13 casualties in the two villages, with the majority of the KIA deriving from Hawash Al-Farah.

Identified militants from Jaysh Al-Islam killed at Hawash Al-Farah:

1. ‘Anwar Al-Kelaani

2. Bilal Faysal Al-Faraj

3. Ahmad Abu ‘Assaf

4. Mounir Ahmad Al-‘Abbas

5. Mustafa Keemawi

6. Zayd Al-’Ibrahim

At the Jobar District, the 105th Brigade is continuing its offensive in the northeast and the southwest, where the latter has pressed Jaysh Al-Islam militants to the city-center. The majority of the firefights have taken place at Parliament Square and the Al-Manasher Roundabout; these areas are heavily fortified by the entrenched Jaysh Al-Islam militants combatting the ensuing SAA forces. The 105th Brigade has progressed in Jobar, capturing multiple building blocks near Parliament Square and killing scores of militants with the assistance of the Syrian Air Force.

Identified militants from Jaysh Al-Islam killed at Jobar:

1. ‘Imad Mohammad ‘Abdel-Malek

2. ‘Abdel-Rahman Al-Na’asaan

3. Mohammad Reehaan

4. Mohammad Khalil ‘Umar

5. “Abu Al-Azzam” (ID pending)

6. Mohammad Al-Habaat

7. ‘Anas Al-Qateeni

8. ‘Ali Al-‘Adou

9. Ahmad Nayla

10. Kamaal Al-Tali

11. Hussein Na’aman “Abu Mata’ab”

12. ‘Uthman Khalil

13. Hussein Ahmad Mara’ay

14. ‘Ibrahim Hamad

15. Rafeeq Al-Ghazawi

Jaysh Al-Islam has launched a counter-offensive in the village of Tal Kurdi to retake areas captured by the Syrian Arab Army. Initially, Jaysh Al-Islam was able to infiltrate into the village; however, the SAA has forestalled the advance with the help of the Syrian Air Force, who has carried out multiple airstrikes on militant positions in Tal Kurdi. The field commander of Jaysh Al-Islam in Tal Kurdi, ‘Abdel-Rahman ‘Awadaat (Jordanian), was killed on Sunday by the SAA.