Syrian army recapture military base from rebels

DAMASCUS, Jan 08 (Al Jazeera): The Syrian army has reclaimed a military site on the outskirts of the country's capital, Damascus, from rebel forces, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

Government troops "managed to open a road" on Sunday to the Military Vehicles administration base in the city of Harasta, in the Eastern Ghouta district, freeing some 200 troops trapped inside the compound, the British-based monitor said.

The government forces had been besieged by rebel fighters from the Ahrar al-Sham group and al-Rahman Corps since an offensive on December 31, during which anti-government forces expanded their control over the site.

Some 160 pro-government and rebel fighters have been killed in fighting over the base since December 31, according to SOHR.

Rebel forces stormed the site in November 2017 in an attempt to prevent government strikes on rebel-held enclaves in Eastern Ghouta.

Government assaults on the district have been frequent in recent weeks and are believed to be part of the Syrian government's strategy to retake rebel-held positions.