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Syrian army, backed by Hezbollah, recaptures northwestern border town
By staff & agencies
On Line: 15 June 2014 16:27
In Print: Monday 16 June 2014
Syrian government forces on Sunday recaptured the strategic town of
Kessab, near the only border crossing with Turkey in the northwestern
province of Latakia, state television reported.
"Units from the army are reestablishing security in the province of
Latakia after killing a large number of terrorists and destroying
their weapons," the television said, referring to rebels who had been
in control of the town for more than two months.
Kessab, an Armenian town, is strategically important because it is
located near the only border crossing with Turkey in sensitive Latakia
province.
Terrorists, including members of Syrian Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra
Front, withdrew from the town on Saturday, the Britain-based Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights said, leaving only a small number of men
behind.
As they pulled back, Assad's troops backed by other pro-government
groups, among them Hezbollah, advanced on the village of Nabaein near
to Kessab.
Sunday morning, Syrian state television said government forces had
"restored stability and security" to Kassab and engineering teams were
removing mines and explosives planted by "terrorist gangs", the
government's customary term for rebels.
Kessab was vital for rebels who used it as a staging post to transport
their wounded to Turkey, which backs the opposition.
The Syrian government had accused Ankara of helping rebel groups seize Kessab.
Over the past months, Syrian army has achieved major victories in its
battle against takfiri groups across the Arab country, particularly in
the western region of Qalamoun near the Lebanese border.
http://www.tehrantimes.com/world/116309-syrian-army-backed-by-hezbollah-recaptures-northwestern-border-town/
By staff & agencies
On Line: 15 June 2014 16:27
In Print: Monday 16 June 2014
Syrian government forces on Sunday recaptured the strategic town of
Kessab, near the only border crossing with Turkey in the northwestern
province of Latakia, state television reported.
"Units from the army are reestablishing security in the province of
Latakia after killing a large number of terrorists and destroying
their weapons," the television said, referring to rebels who had been
in control of the town for more than two months.
Kessab, an Armenian town, is strategically important because it is
located near the only border crossing with Turkey in sensitive Latakia
province.
Terrorists, including members of Syrian Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra
Front, withdrew from the town on Saturday, the Britain-based Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights said, leaving only a small number of men
behind.
As they pulled back, Assad's troops backed by other pro-government
groups, among them Hezbollah, advanced on the village of Nabaein near
to Kessab.
Sunday morning, Syrian state television said government forces had
"restored stability and security" to Kassab and engineering teams were
removing mines and explosives planted by "terrorist gangs", the
government's customary term for rebels.
Kessab was vital for rebels who used it as a staging post to transport
their wounded to Turkey, which backs the opposition.
The Syrian government had accused Ankara of helping rebel groups seize Kessab.
Over the past months, Syrian army has achieved major victories in its
battle against takfiri groups across the Arab country, particularly in
the western region of Qalamoun near the Lebanese border.
http://www.tehrantimes.com/world/116309-syrian-army-backed-by-hezbollah-recaptures-northwestern-border-town/