Syrian army retakes parts of east Damascus

The Syrian army said that its units had managed to retake all positions in eastern Damascus that had been infiltrated by opposition fighters earlier this week, lse.co.uk reports.

In a statement, the army said its troops had reclaimed all parts that had been "taken over by terrorists between Jobar neighbourhood and al-Qaboon, as well as the textile and spinning factories, after launching intensive military operations."

It added that it had inflicted heavy casualties on the rebels.

In Northern Syria, regime forces said that they took control of the city of Deir Hafer from Islamic State in the eastern countryside of Aleppo. Deir Hafer is located about 50 kilometres east of the city of Aleppo.