Beirut, Jun 13 (IANS): The Syrian army, supported by the Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah, took control of new territories in the Syrian region of al-Qalamoun, north of Damascus and on the border with Lebanon.
Lebanese television station Al-Manar, mouthpiece of the Shiite Hezbollah group on Friday, confirmed that members of Al Nusra Front, the Syrian branch of Al Qaeda with ties to Islamic State, have retreated from the advancing forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, Efe reported.
Al-Manar also reported that the Syrian army and Hezbollah forces incurred several causalities during the takeover, but did not specify how many.
In recent weeks, regime supporters in Damascus have been gaining ground against Al-Qaeda, IS and other rebel factions in Al Qalamoun.