Syrian army unleashes operation to regain central city
| Xinhua | 2013-5-19 15:50:54 By Agencies |  E-mail  Print |
The Syrian government army has started a wide-scale operation to recapture a strategic border city near Lebanon on Sunday, Iran's Arabic news channel al-Alam TV reported.
Syrian government army is trying to enter al-Qussair city in Homs province from all routes, the report said, adding that the clashes have flared as government troops are targeting rebels' positions in the contested city.
Last month, Syrian army waged a large scale operation to regain al-Qussair, trying to take control of all towns surrounding the area so as to cut the supply lines of the rebels entrenching inside the city.
The rebels in al-Qussair have been buoyed by Salafi groups in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli. The Syrian government recently warned that it would not waver in face of the armed groups that are moving between Syria and Lebanon.
Last week, Syria's air forces dropped leaflets urging people in al-Qussair to leave their homes in anticipation of furious battles for control over the city. Sources said that more than 400 families have fled the city since last week.
Earlier on Sunday, twin blasts targeting checkpoints in Homs killed at least two people. The blasts apparently came to ease pressure on the besieged rebels in al-Qussair and to distract Syrian government troops.
The rebels have been entrenching in al-Qussair since last year.
Syrian government army is trying to enter al-Qussair city in Homs province from all routes, the report said, adding that the clashes have flared as government troops are targeting rebels' positions in the contested city.
Last month, Syrian army waged a large scale operation to regain al-Qussair, trying to take control of all towns surrounding the area so as to cut the supply lines of the rebels entrenching inside the city.
The rebels in al-Qussair have been buoyed by Salafi groups in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli. The Syrian government recently warned that it would not waver in face of the armed groups that are moving between Syria and Lebanon.
Last week, Syria's air forces dropped leaflets urging people in al-Qussair to leave their homes in anticipation of furious battles for control over the city. Sources said that more than 400 families have fled the city since last week.
Earlier on Sunday, twin blasts targeting checkpoints in Homs killed at least two people. The blasts apparently came to ease pressure on the besieged rebels in al-Qussair and to distract Syrian government troops.
The rebels have been entrenching in al-Qussair since last year.