Syrian army launches major offensive to drive Daesh from Suwayda

The Syrian army has launched a massive offensive  to drive out Daesh militants form a desert area in  Suwayda province, Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday.

The offensive came days after Daesh militants launched deadly attacks on the Syrian southern province, local media and activists reported on Monday.

State news agency SANA said the armed forces were deployed to the desert area in the eastern countryside of Suwayda, in tandem with air strikes and artillery shelling, on Daesh positions.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the army started its broad offensive  in the desert area on Sunday evening.

The London-based watchdog body also said the army was making progress amid fears for the lives of 30 hostages abducted by Daesh militants in a surprise attack on July 25.