L.A. Times: On eve of peace talks, Syrian forces make fresh gains against rebels
Syrian army troops have overrun rebel strongholds in the mountains of western Latakia province, according to government and opposition accounts on Sunday, marking the latest government gains before peace talks slated to begin this week in Geneva.
Forces loyal to President Bashar Assad swept through the town of Rabiaa and nearby villages close to the Turkish border, according to the official Syrian media and a pro-opposition monitoring group.
The army advanced “after violent clashes against Islamic battalions” including Jabat al Nusrah, the official Al Qaeda franchise in Syria, reported the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a pro-opposition monitor based in England. Syrian and Russian war planes backed the thrust, the observatory said.
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More News On Syrian Military Forces Seizing The Last Rebel Stronghold In Latakia Province
Syria regime advances in northwest ahead of peace talks -- AFP
Syria conflict: Major rebel town 'seized' in boost for Assad -- BBC
Russian-backed Syrian army advances imperil peace talks -- CBS/AP
Syrian government troops retake Rabia, last rebel stronghold in Latakia -- CNN
Government forces recapture key Syrian rebel town -- UPI
Syria government forces recapture key town ahead of scheduled peace talks -- Al Jazeera
Syrian government troops retake last rebel stronghold in Latakia -- SBS
1 comment:
Thats a way underreported news. After the capture of Salma last week, the liberation of Rabiaa come a litle bit suprise to me, I though rebels would spend more of their resources there to defend it. The recent gains are the result of a well developed and pre-planned military strategy, and the upcoming events will be very interesting. If the liberation of al-Farlaq forest will be done, not only parts of Latakia been liberated, but more importantly, the frontlines of SAA just been reduced by 30km or so, which is huge in any war. This will resut in a change of force ratios, which I do not yet know how will end, where SAA reposition their forces. Currently Russian intervention and the offensives since then, are have one common goal, it's a preparation to close the Turkish border from rebels and IS, and in this context the SE Aleppo and Kweres AB offensive has meaning. I extect the rest of rebel held areas in Latakia been liberated before summer, or even earlier.
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