On Saturday morning, the Syrian Arab Army’s 105th Brigade of the Republican Guard – in coordination with the National Defense Forces (NDF) of Damascus City and the Palestine Liberation Army (PLA) – continued their large-scale offensive in the East Ghouta region of rural Damascus, targeting this Jaysh Al-Islam stronghold at the Marj Al-Sultan Military Airbase.

The Republican Guard and their allies began their assault at the southern perimeter of the Helicopter Airfield inside the Marj Al-Sultan Military Airbase, striking the Islamist rebels from Jaysh Al-Islam (Army of Islam) with a powerful ground and aerial assault.

Accordng to a military source with the Republican Guard, the Syrian Armed Forces imposed full control over the strategic helicopter airfield that is situated to the south of the Marj Al-Sultan village, following an intense series of firefights with the Islamist rebels from Jaysh Al-Islam.

The military source added that Jaysh Al-Islam was fighting alongside the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” and a number of small Islamist rebel groups that are operating in the East Ghouta region of the Rif Dimashq Governorate.

With helicopter airfield under their control, the Syrian Armed Forces are on the brink of capturing the entire military airbase; this would mark the first time since the summer of 2012 that the pro-government forces have advanced this deep in the Marj Al-Sultan Military Airbase.

If the Marj Al-Sultan Military Airbase is captured the Syrian Armed Forces, they will be in position to attack several untouched villages in the East Ghouta.