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Source: Press TV
The Syrian armed forces backed by fighters of Lebanon’s resistance movement Hezbollah have gained more ground on the battlefield against Takfiri militants in the strategic border city of Zabadani.

According to Hezbollah’s al-Manar TV, the Syrian army and allied Hezbollah resistance fighters managed to take control of Barada Mosque and the neighboring buildings in southwestern part of Zabadani on Thursday.

The report added that the forces also made more advances toward the western neighborhood of the city, killing and injuring scores of terrorists.

Takfiri elements have reportedly dug several underground tunnels in Zabadani and use them in battle against Syrian army and Hezbollah fighters.

The Syrian military is said to have destroyed four of the tunnels, through which ISIL terrorist imported arms to the town.

The advance in the flash-point city came amid reports that some militant groups have decided to surrender due to the tightening siege on their positions. The allied forces have already established full control over major entrances of Zabadani as well as key plains south of the city.

A highly strategic town in Syria’s Rif Dimashq Province, Zabadani has been a major stronghold of the militant groups like al-Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham. Control over the city had enabled the terrorists to move along the Syrian-Lebanese border and transfer ammunition and forces into areas not far from the Syrian capital Damascus.

Since March 2001, Syria has been grappling with a militancy sponsored by foreign governments including Turkey, the United States and some regional Arab allies. The crisis has left more than 230,000 people dead.

The violence has also forced over 3.8 million Syrians to take refuge in neighboring countries, including Jordan and Lebanon.