LATEST: Regime Pushes Back Insurgents Threatening Hama Military Airport

TUESDAY FEATURE

“Reconciliation”? Regime Sieges Continue Near Damascus

Residents and authorities across Lebanon have harassed Syrian refugees, following the Islamic State’s beheading of two Lebanese soldiers.

On August 19, the jihadists executed one of the 19 soldiers they seized in fighting last month in Arsal, just inside the border with Syria, and on Saturday they announced the beheading of a second, Abbas Medlej.

Unknown men expelled refugees Monday from the southern town of Houla, while those in a camp in Burj al-Shemali near Tyre were given written eviction notices.

“We’re not against Syrian refugees,” said Ali Deeb, the mayor of Burj al-Shemali. “But we don’t want gatherings of camps for hygiene reasons and also security reasons.”

In the Beirut suburb of Burj Hammoud, residents circulated a flyer: “We ask Syrian citizens living in Burj Hammoud to evacuate the area by Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m….in solidarity with the martyrs of the Lebanese Army.”

In Arsal, no clashes were reported; however, two people were kidnapped by the family of one of the abducted soldiers, who said they “will not release the hostages until (the soldiers) are free”. Other kidnappings were reported in the Bekaa Valley.

Almost 1.2 million Syrians — about 5% of the pre-war population — have fled to Lebanon since March 2011.

Regime Pushes Back Insurgents Threatening Hama Military Airport

Sources confirm that Syrian forces have pushed back insurgents threatening Hama Military Airport.

The opposition fighters moved within 2-3 kilometers of the airport and Hama city last month, taking a series of villages and regime checkpoints.

However, sources say that opposition fighters have retreated from Kattab, northwest of Hama city, amid sustained regime airstrikes and shelling.

Video: Demolished Building Used By Regime Militia in Jobar in Damascus

Insurgents film the demolished building used by pro-regime shabiha in the Jobar section of northeast Damascus:

Syrian forces have been trying for weeks to advance on the ground against the opposition-held area, but have so far been repulsed and suffered scores of casualties.

Video: Insurgents Capture Masharah in Quneitra Province in Southwest

In one of the latest “victory” videos from their offensive in southwest Syria, insurgents highlight the capture of Masharah in Quneitra Province:

Opposition forces have advanced further in the province in the past week, following their takeover of Quneitra town and other territory near the border with Israel.

See Syria Daily, Sept 6: The Insurgent Offensive in the Southwest