On March 1, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) advanced 1km deep inside the Harasta Orchards in the eastern part of the Harasta district east of the Syrian capital, Damascus, according to the Syrian news outlet al-Masdar News.
Syrian pro-government sources revealed that the SAA had captured several fortifications of Faylaq al-Rahman and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) during its advance in the Harasta district, including a wide deep trench, which had been used by Faylaq al-Rahman vehicles.
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Meanwhile, the Jaysh al-Islam-linked news agency al-Kumait reported that warplanes of the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Syrian Arab Air Force (SyAAF) had conducted several airstrikes with heavy bombs and guided missiles on the districts of Harasta and Irbin in the northern part of the East Ghouta pocket.
Faylaq al-Rahman and HTS have not released any statement regarding the ongoing clashes in the Harasta district. This indicates that the two armed groups are facing a great pressure from the SAA and the Russian Aerospace Forces.
Currently, the SAA is planing to cut off all the supply routes, which link the Harasta district with the Duma district east of it. After accomplishing this, the SAA will likely launch a final assault to push Faylaq al-Rahman and HTS out of Harasta.
