HEZBOLLAH COMMANDER KILLED BY SYRIAN OPPOSITION FORCES IN ZABADANI

Zabadani, Syria, 11 Jumadil Akhir 1436/31 March 2015 (MINA) – At least 20 people were killed on Monday evening and dozens of others were injured in the town of Zabadani in the Damascus countryside during clashes between the oppositions of Ahrar al-Sham and the pro-Assad Shiite militants of Hezbollah.

Speaking to ARA News in Zabadani, the military commander of Ahrar al-Sham, Abdurrahman Nasser, said that most of the dead were members of the Lebanese Shiite militia of Hezbollah “who came to Zabadani to seize rebels-held areas after the failure of regime army”.

“The clashes took place on the western mountain of Zabadani, claiming the lives of many Hezbollah fighters including commander Abolfazl Biqai,” Nasser said, adding that the rebels seized several weapons and ammunitions, ARA News quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

This coincided with the bombing of the city of Zabadani with six barrel bombs and artillery fire by pro-regime helicopters, causing the deaths of 12 rebels from Ahrar al-Sham, as well as the injury of dozens of civilians, local sources told ARA News.

Nasser also pointed out that the rebels captured four Hezbollah fighters, saying pro-Assad forces will continue repositioning to penetrate and advance into the rebels-held areas.

“We are planning for a harsh war of attrition. We are ready to make the Qalamoun mountains a cemetery for tyrants,” he added.

Noteworthy, forces from Lebanese Hezbollah and other militias loyal to the Syrian regime have been engaged in battles against the armed opposition groups in several areas across Syria. (T/P001/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)