On April 2, government forces established control of the town of Taqsis and the villages of Zour Abu Dardah, Jamaqiliya, Taqsis, Imarah in the Rastan pocket in the northern Homs countryside.
According to initial efforts, units of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) entered Jamaqiliya, Taqsis and Imarah. However, later it appeared that the government forces’ gains are larger.
With the inevitable liberation of Eastern Ghouta, the Rastan pocket, the Eastern Qalamoun pocket and the Yarmour Refugee Camp area and will become the only militant-held anclave within the government-controlled part of Syria. According to experts, the elimination of such pockets will be a key part of the Damascus strategy prior to challenging other threats to the territorial integrity of Syria.
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