MAP: Military situation in East Ghouta as of 24 February 2018, with brief-info on upcoming Damascus Steel OP. MAX Resolution(4800x2716): https://i.imgur.com/iHcENu2.jpg ''Damascus Steel'' Operation Syrian Arab Army is preparing to launch long-awaited Damascus Steel OP to capture entire pocket (+100 km²), in order to secure Syria's capital from daily shelling by Free Syrian Army & Tahrir Al-Sham militants, but also secure Damascus - Homs M5 highway. Besides, ths will free up a large number of SAA manpower for Phase II of greater Idlib OP. BELLIGERENTS Damascus Steel OP will be spearheaded by SAA's elites of Tiger Forces, Syrian Republican Guard, 14th Division (SF) & 4th mechanized division (Ghiath Forces - 42nd Brigade). These offensive-units will be supported by Syrian & Russian air forces + backed by regular forces, National Defense Forces, Tribal Fighter Forces & Galilee Forces mainly for defensive / fortification tasks (of new gains). SAA's 1st Armored Division, 7th Mechanized Division & 9th Armoured Division have also sent reinforcements. Total manpower of pro-government forces participating in Damascus Steel OP is estimated 10,000 - 15,000. After Inter-conflict during mid-2017 between Jaish Al-Islam & Ahrar Al-Sham VS Tahrir Al-Sham(Nusra / AQ) & Faylaq Al-Rahman, tensions still exist, although decreasing gradually. Damascus Steel OP could be a good reason to turn these 2 sides into limited reconciliation(alliance) for cooperation, as they share same trench(VS SAA) + ideology. STRATEGY Western part of pocket has a very high urban density, with tunnnel-networks & extremely fortified sites of militants, making it most complex part in comparison to the eastern part which is farm land in general. Accordingly, Phase I of Damascus Steel OP will aim at complete isolation of that ''urban block'' exending from Jobar up to Duma, thus concentrating on eastern front to capture JAI-held farm land. Meanwhile, 1st phase does not exclude an activity on western front, especially once militants reduce forces at specific points to reinforce eastern front. The latter scenario could afford an opportunity for SAA's elites to break through militants defensive-lines in the ''urban block''. Phase II could manifest in the split up of remaining militant-held ''urban block'' into 2 or 3 parts, with possibly & finally a reconciliation process with Syrian government, similar as Battle of Qaboun in 2017. 24 Resistance Axis ©
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