Nusra Front, Other Syrian Rebels Raid Damascus

We Are Change

Second Raid Against Jobar District This Week

Article via Antiwar

Despite a large number of troops deployed there, the Syrian capital of Damascus appears far from secure, as for the second time this week rebels from al-Qaeda’s Nusra Front and other factions have infiltrated the area around Jobar District, leading to fighting throughout the day.

The groups appear to be of the same factions that attacked on Sunday, seizing parts of the district for around 24 hours before a military offensive backed with airstrikes finally repelled them. The Syrian military sought to downplay the latest incursion, insisting they have the rebels “surrounded.”

Whether that’s actually the case or not is unclear, however, as in the Sunday offensive officials conceded that the rebels had got in through a series of tunnels, and it isn’t totally certain that the tunnels are entirely under control, or if the rebels can still use them to come and go as they please.

The Syrian military has been removing a lot of the rebel forces from the areas around Damascus, but they remain in a handful of different areas. This is likely to fuel a new push to consolidate control over the metro area, and to force the remaining rebels to sign evacuation deals.

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This article first appeared on Antiwar.com and was authored by Jason Ditz.

The post Nusra Front, Other Syrian Rebels Raid Damascus appeared first on We Are Change.

from We Are Change https://wearechange.org/nusra-front-syrian-rebels-raid-damascus/