Syrian army takes full control of water source city Wadi Barada

Every town and village in Wada Barada in western Damascus has been taken over by the Syrian government forces, the Syrian army command said on Sunday.

Ain Fijeh, one of the towns recaptured is crucial for the Syrian government as it contains the Ain Fijeh spring, the main water source providing 80 percent of water use for the capital’s over five million population.

Clashes in this area broke out between Syrian government forces and rebels last December, causing a water-supply crisis for 5.5 million people in Damascus for over a month.

Syrian government forces and militants reached a national reconciliation agreement on Saturday.The Red Crescent was allowed to enter Wadi Barada again.

Meanwhile, maintenance workers entered the area to assess the damage.The water supply should resume in the Damascus area soon if the maintenance work goes well.