Syrian government forces have taken full control over the town of Douma, the last rebel stronghold in the eastern Ghouta enclave outside Damascus, Russian news agencies reported on Thursday, citing a Russian military official.
“The raised state flag over a building in the town of Douma has heralded the control over this location and therefore over the whole of eastern Ghouta,” Major-General Yuri Yevtushenko, head of the Russian peace and reconciliation center in Syria, was quoted as saying.
Syrian government forces have regained control over Eastern Ghouta region, Russian Center for Syrian Reconciliation announced, according to Sputnik news agency.
Russian military reported that Syrian army has established control over Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta, which until now has been under control of Jaysh al-Islam militant group.
“Today, a landmark event in the history of the Syrian Arab Republic took place. The state flag flown over a building … in the city of Douma marked the regained control over this settlement, and consequently over entire Eastern Ghouta," head of Russia's center for Syrian reconciliation Major-General Yury Yevtushenko told reporters.
According to press release issued by the Russian Ministry of Defense, subunits of Russian military police were deployed in Douma on April 12. These subunits “will be guarantee of observance of order in the city, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Earlier, the evacuation of Jaysh al-Islam insurgents and their families left Eastern Ghouta started via the Muhayam al-Wafedin checkpoint. Up to eight thousand insurgents and about 40 thousand of their family members in total have been reportedly evacuated from Douma, according to Sputnik.
