Damascus, May 3 (IANS) The Syrian army on Sunday wrested back control over an important town here, cutting a key rebel supply route, media reported.
The government forces captured the town of Maidaa’, Xinhua reported, citing SANA news service.
The report added that the town served as a supply route for rebels between the battle-hit towns of Douma and Dumair.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the troops captured large swathes of Maidaa’ after clashes with jihadi groups in the area resulted in losses on both sides.
The Britain-based watchdog group said the battles involved shelling by both sides.
Meanwhile, Syrian troops were also advancing on the outskirts of Eastern Ghouta near Dumair, according to the group.
Clashes also took place in Zabdin, another town in Eastern Ghouta.
Eastern Ghouta, an agricultural region in Damascus, has emerged as a threat to the capital due to the presence of a large number of rebel groups, who often shell the capital with mortars and other improvised rockets.
The Syrian forces have laid sieges ahead of most towns in Ghouta, forcing rebels in some towns to accept a truce in return for aid.
The fresh progress on Sunday comes at a time when the Syrian government forces have lost several key areas in the north and south to the Al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and other such jihadi militants.