LATEST
- Rebels Warn of Renewed Rocket Attacks on Damascus If Regime Airstrikes Continue on Suburbs
- Jabhat al-Nusra and Local Rebel Faction Clash in Beit Sahem, South of Damascus, Following Civilian Protests
- Reports: US-Led Airstrikes Hit Jabhat al-Nusra in Northwest Syria, Kill Civilians
- Regime Claims Capture of Jazal Oilfield in Homs Province from Islamic State
SUNDAY FEATURE
Businessman Buying Oil for Assad From Islamic State Is Sanctioned by European Union
In another episode in the ongoing battle north of Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, rebels tried to take two strategic hills on Saturday.
The opposition forces attacked al-Madafeh and Handarat hills, near the main road to rebel-held areas of Aleppo, divided since July 2012.
During the date, rebel outlets said they had control of both hills, raising the prospect of an assault on regime forces both in the Aleppo Central Prison and in the town of Handarat.
However, the Syrian air force bombed the advancing forces, and later reports indicated that rebels retreated from the Handarat hilltop, while continuing to fight on the hillsides.
The rebel faction Jaish al-Mujahireen wal Ansar claimed this morning that it and another Jabhat al-Nusra group hold Handarat hill:
Jaysh al-Muhajirin wal-Ansar say they're still in control of Tell Handarat, #Aleppo & they're the only ones there with KatibatSayfullah (JN)
— Ibn Nabih (@IbnNabih1) March 8, 2015
Regime forces tried for months to take the area around Handarat, cutting off the opposition-held areas of Aleppo city. However, rebels have turned the tide, including the defeat of a regime offensive last month with heavy casualties suffered by Syrian troops and their allies.
Rebels claiming destruction of a Syrian tank with a guided missile:
Rebels Warn of Renewed Rocket Attacks on Damascus If Regime Airstrikes Continue on Suburbs
The rebel faction Jaish al-Islam has put out a video with a final warning to the Assad regime: if you persist with airstrikes on the suburbs of Damascus, we will renew rocket attacks on the capital.
Jaish al-Islam fired two volleys of more than 100 rockets on military positions in Damascus last month, amid regime bombing that killed at least 250 people and wounded hundreds in Douma, northeast of Damascus.
After a warning from the rebels of “600 to 1000 rockets next time”, the Syrian military eased the airstrikes, but they resumed last week.
Jabhat al-Nusra and Local Rebel Faction Clash in Beit Sahem, South of Damascus, Following Civilian Protests
Local activists report clashes on Saturday between Jabhat a-Nusra and the local rebel faction Liwa Sham a-Rasoul in Beit Sahem, south of Damascus.
Sham News Network reported the cause of the clashes was “accumulated grievances” between Jabhat al-Nusra and local residents, who have protested both the Islamist group’s activities and retribution from regime shelling and siege.
The towns of Beit Sahem, Yelda, and Babila — all on the highway between Damascus and Damascus International Airport — agreed to truces with the regime in early 2014.
On Friday, residents demonstrated in front of Jabhat al-Nusra’s local headquarters, calling for the group to leave the area. Six civilians were injured when Jabhat al-Nusra members opened fire, according to pro-Kurdish news agency ARA News.
On December 30, protests began in Beit Sahem calling for Jabhat al-Nusra’s withdrawal. The faction did so in mid-January, only to return in the past several weeks.
Reports: US-Led Airstrikes Hit Jabhat al-Nusra in Northwest Syria, Kill Civilians
Reports are circulating that airstrikes by the US-led coalition have again hit positions of the Islamist faction Jabhat al-Nusra, killing civilians.
The attacks were on Atmeh in Idlib Province, near the Turkish border. The missiles — up to six, according to activists — hit a few hundred meters from a large refugee camp.
The US coalition hit Jabhat al-Nusra positions in Idlib and Aleppo Provinces on the first day of the American intervention last September, killing at least 14 civilians, and there have been further strikes since then.
Sunday’s attack comes days after four Jabhat al-Nusra leaders, including the general military commander, were killed in an air raid. The Syrian military has claimed responsibility, and the US denied that coalition planes were within 200 miles of Idlib Province.
Regime Claims Capture of Jazal Oilfield in Homs Province from Islamic State
State media say the Syrian military retook the Jazal oilfield in Homs Province from the Islamic State on Saturday.
According to State news agency SANA, experts and technicians from the Hayyan Petroleum Company have carried out a damage assessment. Islamic State fighters reportedly bombed an oil well as they withdrew.
Syrian officials said the field produced 2,500 to 3,000 barrels per day.
