Syrian army takes control of Damascus main water source

Syrian regime forces entered the village of Ain al-Fija near Damascus early on Saturday and took control of a spring that supplies most of the capital's water, according to a media unit run by Lebanese group Hizballah.

Pro-regime troops entered the area in the Wadi Barada valley as part of an agreement with rebels that have been fighting to hold it, the media unit said.

The deal will include the evacuation of insurgents from the area, it added.

The spring, located in an area controlled by rebels, came into recent light as water was cut off from Damascus, triggering what observers dubbed Syria's "water war".

Millions of people were left without water for weeks after fighting damaged key infrastructure in the Wadi Barada region that is the main water source for Damascus.

The regime accused rebels and jihadi elements of deliberately using water as leverage, but rebels denied the presence of al-Qaeda or other extremist fighters in the area.

They said the mains supply was severed after government strikes hit pumping facilities in the area.

A previous attempt at a truce failed earlier this month after a government negotiator was killed near Damascus.