Orient Net, 14 July 2017— Saad al-Haj, the director of the media office in the opposition fighting group of Assoud al-Sherqiyeh, The Lions of the Eastern Syria, announced on Tuesday (July 11) that one of Assad warplanes was hit near Um Remem area in the Syrian Desert on the side of Damascus eastern countryside.

Al-Haj said in a statement to Orient Net that the warplane was hit after being targeted by the opposition machine gun of type 23. The Assad pilot made an emergency landing in Assad al-Seen airbase.

  One of Assad warplanes was hit near Um Remem area in the Syrian Desert on the side of  Damascus eastern countryside

This development came as opposition fighters regained control of Um Ermem after destroying two Assad tanks and a sweeper, killing at least 30 of the Iran-backed militias.

It is worthy to note that the Shia militias began yesterday a military campaign in the Syrian Desert, taking advantage of the ceasefire agreement in the south of Syria. The militias occupied as a result many points on the eastern axis of Suweida, including, Tal Asfar and Salman Hills, in addition to Tal Makhool in Damascus eastern countryside.