Syria: Syrian army storm rebels-held town of Qusair
Syrian troops celebrate as they take control of the village of Haydariyah, some seven kilometers outside the rebel-held town of Qusair
The Syrian military, backed by Hezbollah, pounded the rebel-held town of Qusair on Sunday, killing at least 13 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
“After two days of calm, planes bombed the town of Qusair in the early hours of the morning,” the watchdog’s director Rami Abdel Rahman said.
At least 13 people, including rebels, were killed in these raids and in artillery and mortar fire by the army.
“It seems that this is preparation for a major operation,” he said.
Rebel forces have held the strategic town, which links Damascus with the coast, for months. However the Syrian army, bolstered by foreign fighters including Hezbollah militants, have won a number of battles around the town in recent weeks. The Syrian air force last week dropped leaflets on the town, calling on residents to leave for their own safety.