Syrian army advances in eastern Damascus

DAMASCUS, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army on Sunday wrested back control over an important town in eastern countryside of capital Damascus, cutting a key rebel supply route, according to the official SANA news agency.

The government forces captured town of Maidaa' and its surrounding orchards in east of Damascus, said SANA, adding that the town served as a supply route for rebels between the hotbed towns of Douma and Dumair.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Syrian troops were advancing in the outskirts of Eastern Ghouta near Dumair.

It said the troops captured large swathes of Maidaa' after clashes with jihadist groups in the area amid reports of losses on both sides.

The UK-based watchdog group said the battles were coupled with shelling from both sides.

Clashes also went on in the surrounding of Zabdin, another town in Eastern Ghouta.

Eastern Ghouta, an agricultural region in east of Damascus, has emerged as a threat to the capital due to the large number of rebel groups, which often shell the capital with mortars and other improvised rockets.

The Syrian forces have struck a siege around most of Ghouta towns, forcing rebels in some towns to accept a truce in return for aid.

The fresh progress on Sunday comes at a time when the Syrian government forces have lost several key areas in north and south to the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front and like-minded jihadist militants.

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