SYRIAN FORCES RECAPTURE YABROUD AND PREPARE OFFENSIVE IN QALAMOUN
Damascus, 17 Jumadil Awwal 1435/18 March 2014 (MINA) – Syrian forces have raised the national flag of Syria in the strategic town of Yabroud after retaking full control of the town from foreign-backed militants.
The national Syrian flag was raised on Monday morning in the main square of the town, Press TV quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting, Monday evening.
On Sunday, Syrian forces pushed back the foreign-backed militants from Yabroud, the latter’s last major stronghold in the mountainous region of Qalamoun, near the Lebanese border.
The victory came after days of mop-up operations and months of planning. Fighters from Lebanon’s resistance movement Hezbollah helped the Syrian army in the operations.
The takeover of Yabroud will cut the supply lines of the foreign-sponsored militants. The advance is considered a major gain for the Syrian army, which has been engaged in a fierce battle against foreign-backed militants for three years.
According to observers, the seizure of the town will affect the situation in Syria, Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territories.
The takeover came days after Syrian troops regained the control of the town of al-Zareh following days of fierce clashes with militants in the province of Homs.
Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since 2011. Some sources say around 130,000 people have been killed and millions displaced due to the foreign-backed militancy.
Syria army preparing for offensive in Qalamoun
The Syrian army is to launch a major offensive against a few remaining areas held by foreign-backed militants in the Qalamoun mountains near the Lebanese border.
An unnamed Syrian security source said on Monday that the army would carry out the operation in south and northwest of the town of Yabroud, which came under full control of the Syrian forces on Sunday.
The strategic southwestern town was considered the last major stronghold of the foreign-backed militants.
The national Syrian flag was raised on Monday morning in the main square of the town.
The takeover of Yabroud will cut supply lines of the militants. The advance is a major gain for the Syrian army, which has been engaged in a fierce battle against the foreign-backed militants for three years.
According to observers, the seizure of the town will affect the situation in Syria, Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territories.
Forces loyal to the government of President Bashar al-Assad have already regained control of the town of al-Zareh following days of skirmishes with militants in the central province of Homs.
On March 15, head of Syria’s foreign-backed opposition, Ahmed Jarba, appealed to foreign supporters to provide the militants with more weaponry.
He said the militants need the weapons to fight both the Syrian army and al-Qaeda-linked groups particularly the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since 2011. (T/E01/IR)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
