LATEST: State Media: Insurgents Try To Blow Up Aleppo Hotel
FRIDAY FEATURES
- Audio Analysis: Russia Tries to Boost Assad Regime in “Hopeless” Geneva II Talks
- 1st-Hand: Tortured by Air Force Intelligence “When They Were Beating Me, I Laughed”
- Geneva II — Can Russia & US Save the Talks?
Syrian forces, alongside Hezbollah, continued their attempt to encircle the city of Yabroud on Thursday.
Yabroud, northeast of Damascus, is a key objective of the regime’s Qalamoun offensive, which started in November.
On Wednesday, the offensive took the village of al-Jarajir, northeast of Yabroud. Yesterday the forces claimed the capture of other positions, such as Rima Farms, and maintained its aerial assault on the city.
The Qalamoun offensive is trying to secure territory to the north and west of Damascus, all the way to the Lebanese border. Syrian forces took three cities and towns in November and December, including Nabk near Yabroud.
The United Nations said 500 to 600 families have fled Yabroud for Arsal, just inside Lebanon. However, 50,000 people remain in the city.
Damage in Yabroud:
Syrian State TV reports from positions near the city:
State Media: Insurgents Try To Blow Up Aleppo Hotel
State media claims that the army foiled an attempt by insurgents to blow up the Carlton Hotel in the Old City of Aleppo.
Video: Insurgents Capture Islamic State of Iraq Weapons, Including Old Armored Vehicle, North of Aleppo
Video: Claimed Car Bomb in Front of Mosque in Yadodeh in Daraa Province
Friday’s Kafranbel Protest “What Assad’s Snipers See”
Kafranbel’s protesters link the themes of besieged civilians trying to get aid and the targeting of them by Syria’s armed forces:
