MAJOR battles erupted in Syria’s capital yesterday as al-Qaida-affiliated militants attempted to storm eastern districts.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (Hetesh) used a huge tunnel bomb and two suicide car bombers in its bid to break through from the Jobar district to the surrounded Qaboun area of Damascus.

The extremist group claimed to have overrun army posts and captured factories, a bus station and electrical facilities west of the East Ghouta suburb, an insurgent stronghold since the start of the six-year war.