DAMASCUS, July 16 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army on Monday captured the al-Harrah hill, highest and most strategic one in the northwestern countryside of Daraa Province in southern Syria, state news agency SANA reported.

The Syrian forces have controlled the town of al-Harrah and its namesake hill in the northwestern countryside of Daraa, SANA said.

The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor group also reported the significant progress by the Syrian army in Daraa.