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Press TV has conducted an interview with Hisham Jaber, retired major general from Beirut, about the Syrian army making more gains in its fight against foreign-backed militants in the country, and defeating them in three towns in the strategic Qalamoun region.

Press TV: Following these advancements that have been made by the army, a lot of observers come out saying that it looks like the Syrian government is gaining the upper hand across the country as a whole in the battle with militants.

Do you think that the army however is nearing a full victory?

Jaber: Yes. We think day after day I think the Syrian army makes significant success on the land and especially around Damascus and the Qalamoun area.

The Qalamoun is very difficult area. The decision was made to liberate al-Qalamoun. We see that after Yabroud and Ma’loula and then we have today Assal al-Ward. All this success within couple weeks and the last town in my opinion would be Zabadani.

It is very important area and also the Syrian army in this one it will finish the control of al-Qalamoun, it will protect the suburb of Damascus, the capital which is priority for the regime and the road between Damascus and Latakia and the Syrian coast and also it made success last month to control the north borders with Lebanon when the Syrian army did control Qalaat al-Hosn.

But there is a lot to think so, steps to do. There are priorities. President Assad said before the end of this year we can find, he said that there is something different on the land. He means that after military success, the peaceful solution in my opinion, we will have chance to get a peaceful solution.

But as we see that it is very, very hard battles made by the Syrian army. What are the reasons the Syrian army is making success because those ... [militants] are foreigners, they do not know the land, there is lack of single command between them and also they do not have any positive or friendly environment in those cities where they are fighting now and the Syrian army is well-equipped, they know their lands and they are really qualified.

All those reasons explain the Syrian army advance and the Syrian army success on the land in Syria. But we have to wait and I think the Syrian regime as we know has, as we said several priorities.

You know priority one is Damascus, the capital, the borders between Lebanon and Syria, the access for example. Why Zabadani is next, because it controls the road between Damascus and Beirut which is very important for the regime and I think it is a matter of days and the whole area will be under control of the army.