DAMASCUS — Syrian government forces have overrun rebels in a town northeast of Damascus, strengthening President Bashar al-Assad’s grip on territory around the capital.

The town – Adra al-Omalia – is about 30 km from central Damascus, but far from parts of Syria where the United States has launched air strikes against fighters from the “Islamic State.” 

Syrian state TV on Thursday said the armed forces had “imposed their control over the town of Adra al-Omalia and eliminated a number of terrorists.” Troops were combing the area and clearing out explosives planted by armed groups, it added.

The Syrian army, backed by Hizbullah fighters, have been gradually extending control over a corridor of territory from Damascus to the Mediterranean coast this year, recapturing towns and villages along the main north-south highway and in the mountainous Qalamoun area along the Lebanese border.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, confirmed the government had taken control of Adra al-Omalia after clashes with rebels including some from the Nusra Front, al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria, whose positions have also been hit by U.S. air strikes.

The Observatory, which monitors the conflict through a network of sources, earlier said at least 29 people – 18 of them rebel fighters – died during fighting on Wednesday on the outskirts of Damascus.

State TV broadcast what it said was live footage from the town showing soldiers standing in the area near buildings that had collapsed or were smashed up.