Syrian government, Iraqi reinforcements reach southeast Damascus for upcoming offensive

Reinforcements from the pro-government National Defense Forces (NDF) and their Iraqi paramilitary allies arrived in the southeastern countryside of Damascus last night to partake in the offensive to capture the Badiya area near the Iraqi border-crossing.

The National Defense Forces were comprised of fighters from local contingents in the Damascus Governorate, while their Iraqi allies sent combatants from Kata’eb Imam Al-‘Ali and Kata’eb Hezbollah.

Hundreds of these fighters will be deployed the front-lines to fight the Free Syrian Army (FSA) in the coming days, as they look to help the government regain this vast desert landscape southeast of the Syrian capital.

Amid reports of government reinforcements reaching this area, the U.S. and British forces entered southern Syria through the Tanf Border-Crossing; they are aiding the Free Syrian Army in their Deir Ezzor offensive.