Rebels Storm Syria’s Largest Prison Near Damascus

An Islamist rebel group stormed Syria’s largest prison yesterday, seizing two buildings in the complex near Damascus amid heavy fighting, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Jaish al-Islam entered Adra prison and seized two buildings in the women’s section of the complex,” said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman.
The rebels launched an offensive Wednesday on the regime-held complex, which lies in the Eastern Ghouta suburb of Damascus, capturing a hilltop before seizing part of the facility, he told AFP.

“Most of the prisoners there are activists, political figures, and human rights defenders who are against the regime” of President Bashar al-Assad, said Abdel Rahman.