DAMASCUS, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army and the Lebanese Hezbollah group kept advancing against the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Fronts in barren areas on the Syrian and Lebanese side of the borders on Saturday, said a military source.
The military source told Xinhua that the military forces and Hezbollah captured around six areas in the Qalamoun mountainous region northwest of Damascus, coupled with the advance of Hezbollah also on the Lebanese side of the borders in the Juroud Arsal barrens, which borders the Syrian Qalamoun region.
The Syrian Air Force took part in the battle, carrying out five air raids on the Flaita barrens in Qalamoun.
On the Lebanese side of the borders, the Nusra militants hoisted white flags as a sign of surrendering in the Okab al-Dub area in Arsal amid a state of confusion among their ranks as many of their left their weapons and fled.
The battle was anticipated as it aims to end the presence of the al-Qaida-linked militants in the barren areas of both countries, as the militants used to smuggle weapons and explosives to both countries using the barren areas.
