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Op-Ed: No-Fly Zones Are Not The Solution, But They Are An Essential Step Towards It


The Islamic State is continuing its attacks on Hasakah in northeast Syria, taking positions on the outskirts from regime and Kurdish forces and threatening to move into the city

The militants began their assault last week. Positions have changed hands on several occasions since then; however, the Islamic State now appears to control the villages of al-Dawoudiyah and Rad Shaqra and the city’s power plant. They are also in part of the national prison, where fighting continues. An important battle could be for the Panorama Roundabout, one of the main southern entrances to Hasakah.

An activist told Al Jazeera on Thursday, “ISIL is now at the southern entrance to Hasakah city. They managed to take over…the Panorama checkpoint.” He said the Islamic State also now fully occupied the al-Ahdath prison.

At the outset of the offensive, the Islamic State was briefly in southeast areas of Hasakah before they were pushed back. Regime forces and the Kurdish YPG militia have been joined by reinforcements from the Syrian army and Assyrian militia.

The activist said there had been no power or water in the city for five days.

Hasakah has been controlled for years by Syrian troops and Kurdish forces in a largely-Kurdish area of the country. However, there may be rising tension between the two groups in the face of the Islamic State’s offensive — the pro-regime al-Watan daily is accusing the “so-called Kurdish People’s Protection Units” of “weakness”.

Hasakah would be the second provincial capital to fall to the Islamic State, follow the militants’ takeover of Raqqa in northern Syria from rebels in autumn 2013. The militants also defeated Assad forces in Palmyra in central Syria last month.

In addition to losing Palmyra, the Assad regime was defeated by rebels in the provincial capital of Idlib in northwest Syria in March.


Claims: Hezbollah Closes on Lebanese Border Town of Arsal

Hezbollah’s Al-Manar outlet claims that the group’s fighters are closing on the Lebanese border town of Arsal, capturing territory on the southern and eastern outskirts.

Al-Manar claimed that Hezbollah took control of districts and a mountaintop to the east and south of al-Rahwe, an area south of Arsal’s outskirts.

Al-Manar said the Lebanese Army bombed gatherings of Jabhat al-Nusra closer to Arsal, killing 16 of them.

Another report said Hezbollah and the Syrian army took control of al-Thallaja hill on the outskirts of Flita, a Syrian village east of Arsal.

The claims follow Thursday’s video from Jabhat al-Nusra of the destruction of a Hezbollah armored vehicle, with the Islamist faction claiming that it killed 12 fighters (see below).

Despite the claimed advances, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah denied that his fighters would enter
Arsal, accusing his political rivals of spreading rumors as a scare tactic.

“Not a single Hezbollah official ever said that Hezbollah had a plan to enter Arsal,” Nasrallah said in a televised speech. “We do not want to enter the town and we do not want to get near it. This is the responsibility of the Army and security forces.”

Nasrallah said the Lebanese Cabinet decision Thursday to task the Army with the protection Arsal was a “national decision”: “The matter has become totally outside any political discussion.”


Rebels Renew Offensive in Idlib-Hama Corridor, Attack Regime Position on M4 Highway

Rebels have renewed their offensive in the corridor of southern Idlib and northern Hama Provinces, attacking a regime position on the M4 highway.

The rebels launched attacks on the al-Qiyasat barrier on Friday, reportedly taking a checkpoint and destroying four tanks and two missile launchers.

Rebels cleared regime forces from part of the highway after the capture of the city of Jisr al-Shughour and the town of Ariha in the last six weeks. However, they had held up for several days soon after the fall of Ariha last week.

Some reports indicate that the rebels have already taken al-Qisayat and are moving further west:

Rebel attacks:

Meanwhile, in another area of Idlib Province, Syrian forces are claiming an advance near Zayzoun Dam, taking the the nearby village and a hilltop.

Zayzoun is south of Jisr al-Shughour, the city near the Turkish border captured by rebels on April 26.


3 Detained Civilians Exchanged for 5 Syrian POWs in Aleppo

Three civilians, held in regime prisons for more than a year, have been freed in exchange for the rebel handover of five Syrian troops and two bodies in Aleppo.

The Red Crescent oversaw the transfer in the Bustan al-Qasr district on Wednesday.

ALEPPO DETAINEES FREED

The freed civilians — a man, his wife, and her cousin — were arrested 18 months ago.

A captain was among the Assad soldiers released.


Video: Rally in Damascus Against “Discord and Division”

A rally in a Damascus neighborhood, after Friday Prayers, against “discord and division”:


83 Killed As Regime Continues Airstrikes in Northwest

The Local Coordination Committees report the deaths of 83 people on Thursday, most of them from regime airstrikes and shelling in northwest Syria.

In Idlib Province, 25 people were killed, most of them from attacks on Salqin, northwest of Idlib city (see map). In Aleppo Province, 24 people died, and 13 were slain in Deir Ez Zor in eastern Syria.

Thirteen children and 12 women were among the dead.

The Syrian air force has stepped up attacks, trying to counter rebel advances that have taken almost all of Idlib Province and threatened gains in Aleppo and Hama Provinces.

See Syria Daily, June 4: Another 100 Killed Amid Regime Bombing


Video: Jabhat al-Nusra Claims Destruction of Hezbollah Armor Inside Lebanon With Anti-Tank Missile

The Islamist faction Jabhat al-Nusra claims that it destroyed a Hezbollah armored vehicle inside Lebanon on Thursday with an anti-tank guided missile:

Jabhat al-Nusra claimed that the strike killed 12 Hezbollah fighters in the mountains in northeast Lebanon. Ten names, including those of two commanders, have been posted.

Hezbollah has been pursuing a month-long offensive against Jabhat al-Nusra in the Qalamoun region on the Syrian side of the border. In recent days, Hezbollah has extended its campaign to try and take areas near the Lebanese border town of Arsal, seen as sympathetic to anti-Assad forces.