Warriors Oost-Ghouta withdraw

damascus - Warriors in East Ghouta have forced themselves to retreat to regroup. That said a spokesperson for the jihadist Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam), one of the most important forces in the besieged enclave near the capital Damascus.

Progressive troops conquered about a quarter of the rebel stronghold in recent days, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates. 'It's mainly about farms and a few places,' said the head of the UK-based organization, based on local sources.

The offensive of government troops is accompanied by heavy bombing and artillery bombardments. The spokesperson for Jaish al-Islam blamed the government for a 'scorched earth' tactic. 'He swore that the fighters will reclaim lost territory.

Progressive troops only need to advance a few kilometers to split the enclave in two, said a commander from the military alliance supporting the regime in Damascus. The observatory estimates that three to four hundred families have fled the violence in the past two days.