Airstrikes and rocket and artillery shells hit east Damascus and the Eastern Ghouta in an escalation accompanied by violent battles in Ein Tarma and Jobar

The number of raids carried out by the warplanes since this morning on the Eastern Ghouta rose to 15. The Warplanes carried out two raids on areas in KafrBatna town in the Eastern Ghouta, while targeting Hazza town. Meanwhile, the warplanes carried out at least 12 raids on areas in Ein Tarma town and its Valley and on other places in Jobar neighborhood, east of Damascus, causing the injury of around 10 persons. Raids were accompanied by the firing of at least 10 missiles, believed to be ground-to-ground, by the regime forces on areas in Ein Tarma and its outskirts, amid escalated artillery shelling by the regime forces on the same places. Meanwhile, clashes turned violent between the regime forces and their allied militiamen on one hand and the rebel and Islamic factions on the other on areas in Jobar, Ein Tarma town and its Valley. No casualties have been reported so far.

The regime forces were able on Tuesday the 11th of July 2017 to advance and control the meat plant in the vicinity of Ein Tarma from side of the valley, while the regime forces controlled houses located to the east of the marble factory from the same area, the clashes were accompanied by intense exchange of shelling between both parties, which caused more casualties in the ranks of both of them.

Also the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published earlier that 2 fighters of Rahman Corps were killed and 7 others were injured in the continuous clashes against the regime forces and militiamen loyal to them in the area of Ein Tarma Valley in the Eastern Ghouta, where the regime forces seek to achieve more advancement in the area and control more areas, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published earlier that the regime forces managed, following violent clashes, to make a new advancement into Ein Tarma Valley and to take control of a block that consists of a warehouse and 4 houses. Casualties were reported at both sides but what has been confirmed so far is the death of 3 fighters of Al-Rahman Corps in addition to the injury of 12 others with various degrees of severity. Casualties among the regime forces were also confirmed.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights had also published about 3 days ago that the regime forces managed to take control of the marble factory and locations in its surroundings. This advancement comes as part of the quest of the regime forces to achieve an advancement into the area and reduce the size of areas controlled by the factions at the outskirts of the Eastern Ghouta, which is adjacent to Jobar, in an attempt to clamp down on Jobar and separate it from the Eastern Ghouta, thus forcing its fighters to withdraw from the neighborhood before besieging it. In addition, the regime forces managed to achieve a new advancement a few days ago into Ein Tarma area which is located at the western outskirts of the Eastern Ghouta, as they managed to take control of a block of about 10 houses near Ein Tarma from the side of AlMotahalik AlJanobi (the Southern Bypass), amid violent clashes in an attempt by Al-Rahman Corps to regain control over the area. Clashes were accompanied by heavy shelling by the regime forces and an exchange of targeting between both sides. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also published about 10 days ago that the regime forces managed to take control of a driving school near Ein Tarma village, amid several attempts by the regime forces to advance more in the area, while the factions were seeking to regain control over the area.