The Assad regime’s military and Iranian-supported foreign militias have advanced in southwest Syria, near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
Rebels acknowledged on Sunday that, after more than two months of attacks with heavy bombing and artillery shelling, the pro-Assad forces have closed on the town of Bein Jinn. The regime military said on Sunday that it had encircled the village of Mughr al Meer at the foothills of Mount Hermon.
The territory is the last part of West Ghouta, southwest of Damascus, still held by the opposition after years of bombardment and “starve or surrender” sieges.
Rebels and a “western intelligence source” said Hezbollah and Iranian-backed foreign militias are playing a significant role in the battle. “The Iranian backed militias are trying to consolidate their sphere of influence all the way from southwest of Damascus to the Israeli border,” said Suhaib al-Ruhail of the Liwa al Furqan rebel faction.
Russia and the US declared a “de-escalation zone” this summer in southwest Syria but have taken no step to halt the pro-Assad attacks.
Israel has not intervened in the current fighting despite its warning that Hezbollah and Iran should not establish a presence near the Golan Heights. The Israelis have occasionally struck regime positions in the past, but have fired no missiles on the area since October 21.
