The Al-Badia Cement factory at the eastern edge of the embattled Ghouta suburbs has turned into a major regime arsenal, local activists and rebels said.
The civil utility in the industrial zone of Al-Dumayr town, 60 km east of Damascus, has become a base for Russian and Iranian military experts, along with hundreds of Elite Tiger Force fighters.
Said Seif, spokesman for Ahmed al-Abdo Battalions, said the cement plant is now a favored base of the regime to avoid any Israeli or even American airstrikes, taking advantage of its infrastructure to hide weapons, chemicals and manpower.
Al-Badia Cement is a strategic location to provide logistic supply to regime forces in their deadliest offensive on the Eastern Ghouta. Being close to Al-Dumayr military airport and the 16th Division ballistic missile base is another advantage, Seif said.
As the death toll of President Bashar al-Assad’s onslaught reaches a total of 800, rebel factions now face a similar scenario to the Aleppo offensive, such as heavy bombardment, media incitement and using civilians as weapons.
This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
