The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) continued clashing with Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and Ahrar al-Sham in the strategic Qaboun district in northeastern Damascus. The SAA targeted militant positions with more than 10 heavy rockets and carried out an attempt to advance in the northern part of the district.
In turn, HTS announced that militants had repelled the SAA attack. Ahrar Al-Sham fighters were able to destroy the famous T-72 Shafrah tank after it was hit by what appeared to be a heavy IED.
Ahrar al-Sham also claimed that another T-72 tank was damaged without releasing any evidence.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Air Force destroyed many HTS and Jaish al-Islam positions in the Jobar district in eastern Damascus. It also targeted positions of Ahrar al-Sham in the Qaboun area.
According to pro-government media, HTS was planning to fake a chemical attack by targeting civilians near the front lines in Ein Tirma and Arbin with rockets carrying chemical weapons. The attack was planned to delay SAA operations in the vicinity of Damascus and to provoke the United States to deliver more missile strikes on Syrian military targets.