The Syrian Arab Army’s 105th Brigade of the Republican Guard – in coordination with the 34th Brigade of the 1st Armored Division and the National Defense Forces (NDF) – had a productive Friday near the state capital of Damascus, as they were able to reclaim territory captured by the Islamist rebels in the cities of Harasta and Darayya.

Inside the Al-‘Ajmi District of Harasta, the Syrian Armed Forces continued their counter-assault to reclaim this area that was captured by the Islamist rebels of Jaysh Al-Islam (Army of Islam); however, the Syrian Arab Army’s attack on Friday proved to be decisive, as they were able to advance to the Water Resource Building after fierce clashes with the Islamist rebels.

Following their success at Harasta, the Syrian Republican Guard carried out a powerful assault on Jaysh Al-Islam’s defensive positions at the town of Madeira, which is located south of the rebel stronghold of Douma.

The Republican Guard assault on a Jaysh Al-Islam hideout in Madeira proved successful, as 16 enemy combatants were reportedly killed, including two militants of Libyan and Sudanese descent: “Al-Jabeeb Al-Hatmaani” (Libyan; identification pending) and Aqman Ghandour (Sudanese).

West of Damascus City, the Syrian Armed Forces reportedly captured three more building blocks inside the Darayya Association Quarter, killing 8 enemy combatants from Ajnad Al-Sham on Friday afternoon.

The Syrian Armed Forces did the most damage to the Islamist rebels of Jaysh Al-Islam at the ‘Ayn Tarma-Kafr Batna axis, destroying five armored vehicles mounted with anti-aircraft machine guns and killing four enemy combatants – the latter were identified as Jihad Sa’eed, Firas Al-Fawaal, Mahmoud Al-Daaman, and Khalid Al-Dawmaani.