Intense battles rage as rebels advance east of Damascus

Intense battles continued on Friday between the Syrian army and jihadi groups at the eastern rim of the capital Damascus, activists reported.

Fierce battles flared as rebels managed to capture Tal Kurdi, which contained about 10 Syrian military checkpoints, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Tal Kurdi is located near the rebel-held suburb of Douma and adjacent to the government-controlled Central Prison in the eastern part of the capital city.

The Tal Kurdi area has a strategic importance as it overlooks the prison and the government-controlled Dahyat al-Assad area, which is largely inhabited by Syrians of the Alawite minority, to whom the ruling elite in Syria belongs.

The battles in Tal Kurdi were coupled with fighting in the nearby areas of Mukhayam al-Wafidin and Harasta, which is adjacent to the international road that connects Damascus with the central and coastal regions.

After taking hold in Tal Kurdi, the rebels started shelling Dahyat al-Assad area in Harasta.

A well-informed source told Xinhua that the Syrian army is trying to repel major rebel assaults to protect Dahyat al-Assad.

Government troops have cut off the Damascus international road near Harasta for the safety of passengers, who are now taking the trip out of Damascus using a sub-route that has been largely used during the conflict, pro-government Sham FM radio said.

The rebels' aim behind the raging battles in Harasta is to capture a military base in the restive suburb from government forces, some activists said.

The latest development is seen as posing a major challenge to government forces due to the rebels' proximity to the central prison and the capital's international road. Endit