Syria's military forces have been detonating huge quantities of explosive devices left by rebels in the countryside around Damascus. The aim is to ensure the safe return of residents displaced by fierce fighting. CGTN's correspondent Zhu Xuesong reports from Eastern Ghouta outside Damascus.

Syrian military officials told us that it took over one month of combing through Eastern Ghouta's villages for them to collect all these explosive devices you see in this big hole. Each week, they gathered up to six tons of these explosive devices that were planted since the war began in 2011.

MAYYAD ABDULLAH BRIGADIER GENERAL, SYRIAN ARMY "Clearing the area and detonating explosives is exhausting. We do this daily in the villages of Eastern Ghouta. We do the job carefully and fast so that the civilians can return to their farms, factories, and homes and resume their normal lives."

56-year-old Mayyad is the leader of the Syrian army's team in charge of clearing the area of explosives in Eastern Ghouta. Detonations require meticulous preparation. Abdullah picks up the easily explosive bombs first and then connects them to detonating fuses. What makes these devices a threat to his life is that they were handmade by rebels, unlike ordnances that are manufactured with safety standards."

MAYYAD ABDULLAH BRIGADIER GENERAL, SYRIAN ARMY "The risk lies in the materials that you can see here—they are sensitive and the searing outdoor temperature affects it. In our line of work, the first mistake is the last one. It can't be repeated."

ZHU XUESONG EASTERN GHOUTA, SYRIA "Beside me are the explosive devices found and collected by the Syrian Arab Army. We can see that in this hole, there are different kinds of explosive devices including mortars and land mines. We are told that the temperature today is very high. It is a little bit dangerous to be lingering here. They have to detonate all of them as soon as possible."

Despite the danger, Abdullah and his team keep their cool and execute their jobs calmly. They have finished clearing explosive devices in 24 villages in Eastern Ghouta.

MAYYAD ABDULLAH BRIGADIER GENERAL, SYRIAN ARMY "My family does not know the risks of my work. We deal with dangers that are on the surface as well as underground in the entire Syria."

For Abdullah and his team, ensuring the safe return of thousands of displaced residents is a priority. As long as the war rages, their work is not yet done. Zhu Xuesong, CGTN, Eastern Ghouta, Syria.