In Syria, the fight goes on between rebels and government forces in the southwest. Harasta is the earliest rebel-held city in the region. And the warring sides are battling over its control. Our correspondent Alaa Ebrahim has the report from the frontline.

Damascus seems to appear as it once did - but merely six kilometers east of the capital, the fight rages on. Two days before 2017 came to an end, rebels entrenched in eastern Ghouta launched an attack on Syrian army positions in Harasta. Almost two weeks of fighting put government forces on the counter offensive. Trying to get to Harasta suburb is no easy task – it requires an armored vehicle and dozens of armed soldiers. The commanding officer is a lieutenant with the Syrian police special missions force, an elite unit dispatched to protect key government buildings which are now on the front-line. We were instructed on what could be filmed and briefed about the risks ahead.

ALAA EBRAHIM HARASTA "We are still six kilometers far from the front-line in Harasta town and yet we have to use an armored vehicle to move around. Officers are telling us that even from this distance rebels continue to shell the road we are traveling on using mortars and snipers to cut off the army supply lines which shows how intense the battle is for Harasta."

We arrive at our destination, and are immediately rushed into a high building where we see the battle raging. Syrian fighter jets linger in the sky, hitting rebel outposts to pave the way for advancing ground units.

CAPTAIN YA'ARUB SYRIAN ARMY INFANTRY "The battle here won't be easy. The proximity to Damascus and all the supplies of eastern Ghouta pour into this battle. In addition, rebels have prepared a network of tunnels to attack and resupply. The situation is difficult, but we are well experienced in these kinds of battles."

As the infantry advances, the fighting moves closer and snipers step in to protect the units. A combination of different firearms thunder as the battle continues. Although the pace of the fighting slows down, the battle is nowhere near the end. The army wants to end any threat to its bases in Harasta and to secure a perimeter, not just stop the rebel siege as it has done already. As the army pushes forward, rebel forces warn of surprises up their sleeves, saying they, too, are pressing ahead. Alaa Ebrahim - CGTN – Harasta.