Syrian Arab army Imposes Control Over Aleppo Southeastern Gate

PROVINCES,(ST)_The strategic al-Sfeira city outside Aleppo province has become under the control of the Syrian army, as  wide-scale operations have been conducted in southern Damascus countryside and in Daraa province, according to military and media sources.

It was officially declared on Friday that the Syrian army imposed control over the strategic al-Sfeira city in southern Aleppo countryside. 

The General Command of Army and Armed forces said in a statement issued today that the fresh achievement is significant due to the fact that al-Sfeira city is the southeastern gate to Aleppo.

“Imposing control over the city will open new supply routes to provide Aleppo locals with foods and medicines. We confirm our determination to go ahead with war against terrorism,” the statement read.     

In this context, the Beirut-based al-Mayadeen TV channel made it clear that the city enjoys a strategic location because the military factories- which are surrendered by air-defense bases- are located to the south-west of the city and it is not far from the Aleppo International Airport, al-Nairab airbase and Khanaser area.

“Another reason for saying that  is the city strategic  existence of a desert area stretching from Al-Sfeira city to Khanaser area which is located around 60 km to the south,” the TV channel’s presenter said.

Meanwhile, Alikhbaria al-Soreyeh TV Channel screened a video tape from al-Sfeira city following the army entry.

It quoted a military source as saying that engineering units defused more than 700 explosive devices planted by terrorists in the streets of the city and found 6 bomb-making factories.

The same province (Aleppo) witnessed mortar attack targeted citizens in areas of al-Ismaeleyeh and al-Fed in the city.

The shells which were fired by terrorists left casualties.

Terrorists’ command center targeted  

In another development, al-Mayadden TV Channel said that the Syrian army made an advance in the ongoing battles in areas of Ghazaleh and al-Sbeneh in southern Damascus countryside.

“The Syrian army wiped out the command center of opposition gunmen’ in al-Sbeneh town,” the TV channel said, adding that opposition activists declared that 27 members from the ‘Free Army’ were killed in the battles.

As for result of operations in other provinces, Alikhbaria al-Soreyeh TV channel said that many terrorists were killed in Daraa and Idlib province as the armed forces targeted their groupings there.

It noted that several members of an armed terrorist group died and weapons, including 54 shells, tow mortars, RPGs, and telecommunication devices, were seized in an ambush in al-Mastomeh area in Idlib province.

More terrorists perished in a quarrel which erupted among them in al-Reffeh area in northern Hama province over splitting loots, according to the TV channel.

On the other hand, the TV channel said that 66 wanted people turned themselves in to competent authorities in Damascus and its countryside.

Basma Qaddour