Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — Islamist rebels have launched an offensive around the Syrian capital.

Rebels have reported a major operation against the Syrian Army and Hizbullah in the southern suburbs of Damascus.

The rebels said nearly 1,000 Syrian Army soldiers were killed and more than a dozen villages were recaptured in the offensive, which began around Dec. 13.

“With great precision, the [attack] stunned the regime and its supporters,” a rebel coalition spokesman said.

The coalition identified members as Ahrah Al Sham, Nusra Front for the Defense of the Levant, Habib Mostapha, Shabab Al Hoda and the Issa Ibn Mariam Brigades. The offensive was said to be taking place in East Ghouta, a 40-square kilometer area, much of which was controlled by the rebels over the last year.

“Islamist rebel groups attacked regime positions and the police branch in the town of Adra Al Ummaliya this morning,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

No mention of the new Saudi-sponsored Islamic Front was found in the
statement. Many of the units, including the so-called Ghouta Joint
operations room, identified in the offensive were announced in mid-2013.

The Syrian Army, which has imposed a siege on East Ghouta since April
2013, did not acknowledge any of the rebel claims. The rebels said they have
killed and kept the bodies of 204 Syrian soldiers as well as what was termed
“multi-national experts,” a reference to Iranian military advisers.

“There was the killing of 800 Assad forces and allies, 204 bodies in
rebel hands, including leaders from different nationalities,” the coalition
said. “A command and control headquarters, 23 armed vehicles were destroyed
and 44 vehicles were captured, including four tanks.”

  Ahrah Al Sham, East Ghouta, Habib Mostapha, Hizbullah forces, Hizbullah in Damascus suburbs, Islamist coalition claims major offensive ‘stunned’ Syrian, Issa Ibn Mariam Brigades, Nusra Front, Shabab Al Hoda