Islam Army Spokesman: Assad's airstrikes helped ISIS to seize bases east Damascus

Reporting by Faris Al Rifai; Translation by Yusra Ahmed

(Zaman Al Wasl)- Syrian regime has conducted more than 50 air strikes on Islam Army’s strongholds in east Damascus, trying to thwart the attacks of Key Islamist group, rebel commander said.

Captain Islam Alloush, Spokesman of the Islam Army revealed that regime’s air-strikes on Bier al-Kasab aimed to cover its ground troops and help them to advance toward the battle field between the Islamic State “ISIS” and Islam Army.

“Regime forces played an essential role in supporting the Islamic State’s fighters, however, the Islam Army managed to defeat ISIS in most areas of Eastern Ghouta” Alloush assured.

Islam Army's spokesman explained that Bier al-Kasab had a strategic location, as it is situated on the road between Eastern Ghouta and Jordan.

“Syrian regime siege Ghouta by controlling al-Otaiba, and the Islamic State hardened the siege by controlling Bier al-Kasab, Allosh detailed.

In regard to battles’ progress in Beir al-Kasab, Captain Allosh said that Islam Army had previously managed to control important and advanced points, but the regime’s air strikes against the Army forced its fighters to withdraw and the situation returned as before latest advances.

He confirmed that Islam Army’s fighters are not between Jaws of the pliers as the region is an open desert and fighters can escape whenever they wanted, but they stayed to break the siege. “Battles with regime in Ghouta have never stopped at all fronts”

Islam Alloush denied the news about “al-Mikhil” tribes in Bier al-Kasab and their allegiance to ISIS and considered them nothing more than media lies by the regime and its Lebanese supporters.