2d LD Writethru: Syrian army breaks rebels' siege on key military base east of Damascus

DAMASCUS, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army managed on Sunday to make the first breach into the siege imposed by ultra-radical rebels on a strategic military base in the eastern countryside of the capital Damascus, pro-government al-Ekhbaria TV reported.

The Syrian army broke the siege imposed on the Vehicle Management base in the northeastern city of Harasta in the Eastern Ghouta region of Damascus, according to the report.

The achievement came following a days-long military campaign to break the siege imposed by the al-Qaida-linked Levant Liberation Committee (LLC) and like-minded groups on that key base.

Late last month, the LLC militants waged a major offensive in Harasta to capture the strategic base, managing to lay a siege on the facility and capturing surrounding buildings.

The attack triggered a counter-offensive by the army and intensifying military showdown and airstrikes in that area.

The base is the largest military facility in the Eastern Ghouta region, stretching from Harasta to Arbeen.

It hosts a large number of soldiers, including Republican Guards, as well as big weapon depots.

During the war, the base has become a major operation center and supply facility for the Syrian forces inside the Eastern Ghouta region, which has many towns and neighborhoods.

On Jan. 5, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor group said that 77 rebels were killed during the week-long battles in Harasta.

The UK-based watchdog group added that 79 civilians have so far been killed in the battles there. Enditem