Syrian Army Makes Major Advances in Damascus Countryside

The Syrian army is planning to launch a new phase of military operations in a strategic area in Damascus countryside, military sources said.
The army units are preparing to begin the third stage of their operation in Qalamoun area in the outskirts of Damascus, a military source told FNA on Tuesday.
The Syrian army have already begun their advances in the hills surrounding the Faliteh town near Arsal town close to the Lebanese border.
Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized attacks by well-armed gangs and terrorists against both the army and civilians.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed since terrorist and armed groups turned protest rallies into armed clashes.
The government blames outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups for the deaths, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated from abroad.
According to reports, the western powers and their regional allies — especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey — are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.