FILE PHOTO: An armed gunman walks near burning tyres as protesters block Damascus-Aleppo highway during a protest against rising oil prices in the rebel-controlled area of Maaret al-Numan town in Idlib province, Syria May 19, 2016. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian troops began clearing barricades from the main highway between Damascus and Aleppo on Saturday after recovering full control of the road in a Russian-backed offensive, Syrian state media reported.
It marks a major gain for President Bashar al-Assad, as reopening the M5 highway will restore the shortest route between Syria's two biggest cities for the first time in more than seven years of conflict.
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