Date: Mar 17, 2018 Source: The Daily Star Syrian army has seized 70 pct of Ghouta enclave: statement Reuters BEIRUT: The Syrian army and allied forces have recaptured 70 percent of the territory that had been under insurgent control in the enclave of eastern Ghouta, it said Friday. The military statement said troops had seized swathes of farmland, several villages and some towns. The offensive for Ghouta, the last big rebel bastion near Damascus, began in mid-February. Thousands of civilians fled from there and from another besieged enclave at the opposite end of Syria on Friday as two battles in the multi-sided war entered decisive phases.