Syrian Army Encircled Strategic Militant-controlled Town in Eastern Ghouta 12 October 2016 War Reports 1504 Source: SouthFront The Syrian army and the National Defense Forces (NDF), supported by Syrian warplanes, have de-facto encircled the strategic militant-controlled town of Tell-Kurdi in Damascus’ Eastern Ghouta region. On October 11. the army and the NDF delivered a devastating blow to Jaish al-Islam militants and seized the Rayhan Cemetery and the town of Rayhan in Eastern Ghouta. Controlling Rayhan and Adra jail, the government forces laid a siege on the strategic town of Tell Kurdi and the nearby industrial area controlled by Jaish al-Islam. If this pocket is cleared from the militants, the army and the NDF will be able to prepare an operation to liberate the last major militant stronghold in the region, Duma.