Insurgents confirmed on Monday that they have broken the long-standing siege of Mleiha, a key town east of Damascus.

The decisive attack by a coalition of insurgent groups included heavy armored vehicles and a vehicle-carried suicide bomb by the Islamist faction Jabhat al-Nusra.

Syrian forces had encircled Mleiha for months and tried periodically to take over the town, a “gateway” to insurgent-held areas in East Ghouta.

Photo of the suicide bomber, Abu Al’aa al-Tunisi:

MLEIHA SUICIDE BOMBER

Detonation of the suicide bomb:

Insurgents on the move during the battle:

An armored vehicle moving into position:

Armored vehicle in action:

Inside a captured building used by regime forces:

Continuing operations, including with armored vehicle, to clear remaining regime forces: