Assad forces recaptured northern districts of Mleiha, east Damascus

(Zaman Alwasl)- Syrian regime forces have recaptured northern districts of al-Mleiha town east Damascus, a week after breaking the siege on the embattled town by rebels, freeing 700 besieged fighters, activists said.

For over 6 months, Assad’s forces backed by the Lebanese Shia group, Hezbollah has been battling to recapture al-Mleiha, a strategic rebel bastion.

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.

Syria's three-year-old conflict began as popular protests against four decades of Assad family rule but changed into armed insurgency under a security force crackdown.

More than 171,000 people killed and over 9million forced to flee their homes.