Syria forces enter Douma, last holdout in rebel bastion: state media
DAMASCUS (SYRIA) (AFP) -
Syria's internal security forces entered Douma on Saturday, state media reported, saying the final rebel holdout on the edge of Damascus would be secured within "hours".
Douma was the last rebel-held town in the Eastern Ghouta suburb of Damascus, and is the site of the alleged gas attack that prompted a volley of Western air strikes on Saturday.
Rebels had captured it in 2012, and Syrian government fighters had not entered it since.
"Units from the internal security forces entered Douma in Eastern Ghouta," state television reported.
"We are hours away from ending the terrorist presence in Douma," it added.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, said the units had entered after the last buses of opposition fighters left Douma on Saturday for northern Syria.
The departures come under a negotiated withdrawal reached last weekend between the Jaish al-Islam Islamist rebel faction, Syria's regime, and its Russian ally.
Under the deal, Russian military police were to deploy in the town but Syrian forces were not to enter.
http://www.france24.com/en/20180414-syria-forces-enter-douma-last-holdout-rebel-bastion-state-media
One consequence of the strike would appear to be that Russia will now give Syria freedom to clean out the terrorist sympathizers in Douma.