Syrian forces have retaken a key district of Damascus from opposition forces, activists and state media say.
Security forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad moved in on Mleiha, which is 10km (6 miles) from the centre of the capital, on Thursday morning.
The operation followed a campaign of air strikes on the town, which sits on the main road to Damascus airport.
On Wednesday, Islamist militants were said to have seized several towns from rebels in the northern Aleppo province.
Opposition groups in Syria have been fighting President Assad for over three years, but have lost ground in recent months.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28791072