Islam Army makes gains in Mleiha near Damascus, kills 25 soldiers

(Zaman Alwasl)- Islam Army, main Islamic Front unit, announced Sunday taking control of neighboring orchards to al-Mleiha town near Damascus.

Islam Army said in statement posted online that its fighters had killed 25 soldiers in the latest battles.  

 For months, Bashar al-Assad’s forces backed by the Lebanese Shia group, Hezbollah has been battling to recapture Mleiha, a strategic rebel bastion.

Mleiha has been under siege for more than a year, and under near-constant bombardment for more than a month.

While the army remains in control of Damascus, rebels still hold a number of towns and villages on the outskirts, despite a suffocating blockade and frequent air strikes and shelling.