The Syrian army issued a statement on Saturday night, after the armed factions said they were closing in on the capital Damascus.

 

In the televised statement, the Syrian army described what it called a "systematic terrorist and media war" targeting the Syrian people in recent days. The military said the campaign aims to spread chaos and destabilize the security of Syria and its citizens.

 

"The perpetrators of these attacks are serving hostile agendas and pursuing malicious objectives against Syria and its people," the statement added.

 

It added that it was strengthening its defence lines around Damascus and in the south.

 

"Our armed units are reinforcing their lines throughout the Damascus countryside and the southern region," a spokesperson for the General Command of the Army and Armed Forces said in a televised statement.

 

He declared that the army was launching operations against armed factions in the "Hama and Homs countrysides (in central Syria) and the northern Daraa countryside" in the south.