Syrian government forces have liberated about a half of the Eastern Ghouta pocket from militants since the start of the government’s military operation in this Damascus subrub in late February.
On March 8, the Syrian Arab Army and its allies liberated the villages of Hawsh Ashari and Hawsh Qubaybat, the Jisrin farms and the Air Defense Battalion base. On March 9, government troops continued their advance aiming to separate the remaining militant-held pocket into two parts.