Syria: Syrian army overruns rebels in Adra al-Omalia town near Damascus
Syrian government forces have overrun rebels in a town northeast of Damascus, strengthening President Bashar al-Assad’s grip on territory around the capital.
The town – Adra al-Omalia – is about 30km from central Damascus but far from parts of Syria where the United States has launched air strikes against fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Syrian state TV on Thursday said the armed forces had “imposed their control over the town of Adra al-Omalia and eliminated a number of terrorists.” Troops were combing the area and clearing out explosives planted by armed groups, it added.