In a town northeast of Damascus, the Syrian government's control is growing.
As a group of soldiers celebrate their victory, the town of Adra al-Omalia still stands but with scars of the country's three-year war littering its streets.
Government forces overran rebels in the town Thursday, strengthening Bashar al-Assad's grip.
On a government-organized trip to the town, journalists got a firsthand look at the aftermath.
An officer told the press that the army was still searching for civilians kidnapped by rebels.
Assad's advance comes as U.S.-led airstrikes target Islamic State militants elsewhere in the country.
