Syria's army said Monday it has retaken full control of the capital Damascus and its outskirts after ousting the Islamic State (IS) group in a major milestone in the country's seven-year war.
Syrian forces have been battling for weeks to recover al-Hajar al-Aswad district and the adjacent Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp from Islamic State since driving terrorists from eastern Ghouta in April.
In a televised statement Syria's army high command said al-Hajar al-Aswad and Yarmouk had been cleared of militants.
The Yarmouk camp was established in 1957 near Damascus to host Palestinian refugees. During the war, the camp has become a stronghold of terrorists. In April, the Syrian army started an operation against terrorists in the camp.
"As a result of a joint operation of our armed forces and allies, Al Hajar Al Aswad and the surrounding territories have been completely liberated from terrorists," the army said in a statement.
According to the statement, the entire territory of Eastern and Western Ghouta is now under control of the army. It marked a major milestone in the war.