PHOTO: Regime air attack on Zabadani, northwest of Damascus
LATEST
- Opposition in Damascus Suburb of Darayya Issue “$1000 Bill” to Mark 1000 Days of Regime Siege
- Islamic State Launch Counter-Offensive on Ain Issa, Between Kobane and Raqqa in Northern Syria
- Video: Fighting in Rebel Offensive in Daraa City
- Video: State Journalist Interviews Rebel Prisoners After Posting a “Selfie” with Them
- Islamic State Continues Assault on Regime Force in Hasakah in Northeast Syria
Hezbollah and Syrian forces are claiming success in their offensive to capture Zabadani in Damascus Province, the first town taken by the Free Syrian Army in the fight against the Assad regime.
State media said on Sunday that Hezbollah and the Syrian army had taken al-Jamiyat, just to the west of Zabadani, and moved into the al-Sultaneh neighborhood in the east of the town. Hezbollah said its forces had encircled the northern section.
Rebels said more than 2,000 fighters have planted mines and fortified their positions in Zabadani, about 45 km (28 miles) northwest of Damascus. An opposition website claimed counter-attacks had inflicted significant casualties among Hezbollah fighters.
Earlier this week, the Hezbollah-Syrian offensive — which has moved this spring from the Lebanese border to occupy much of the Qalamoun region — took hills to the east of the town. On Friday, it claimed the al-Tal citadel to the west of Zabadani.
The advance was supported by more than 50 airstrikes on Friday and further bombardment over the weekend, with 15 air raids and 20 barrel bombs on Sunday.
Footage from State news agency SANA:
Zabadani was taken by the Free Syrian Army in January 2012, a few months after the military force was established to defend protesters in the Syrian uprising. The regime has pursued a siege strategy for years, but rebels have refused to surrender.
The capture of the town would be the most significant advance for the Syrian military this year amid a series of defeats by rebels, including the loss of almost of Idlib Province in northwest Syria and territory along the Jordanian border in the south. The regime is also facing an offensive by rebels seeking to capture western sections of the divided city of Aleppo.
Opposition in Damascus Suburb of Darayya Issue “$1000 Bill” to Mark 1000 Days of Regime Siege
Activists in Darayya have issued a “$1000 Dollar bill” to mark almost three years of the Assad regime’s siege.
The Syrian military imposed the cut-off on food and supplies in November 2012, hoping to break the opposition with what activists call a “surrender or starve” approach. The siege has been accompanied by bombardment, with almost 800 barrel bombs used to date.
The activists says about 2,000 of Darayya’s residents have been killed, while about 300,000 have been displaced. About 10,000 people remain in the suburb.
The activists conclude, “On this 1000th day, we issue a new $1000-dollar note to mark our suffering since the international community does not understand humanity or compassion, but only the language of force and money.”
Islamic State Launch Counter-Offensive on Ain Issa, Between Kobane and Raqqa in Northern Syria
The Islamic State has launched a counter-attack on Ain Issa in northern Syria, according to Kurdish outlets.
However, Kurdish sources have denied claims on social media that the town has fallen to the Islamic State, according to an AFP journalist:
Kurds and Syria rebel allies deny reports IS has taken back Ain Issa, south of Tal Abyad. YPG also denies reported clash with Turkey troops.
— Sara Hussein (@sarahussein) July 6, 2015
Kurdish forces captured Ain Issa, 56 km (35 miles) from the Islamic State’s center of Raqqa city, two weeks ago as part of an offensive that has taken about 5,000 square km (1,800 square miles) of territory from the militants.
A correspondent for Welati reported that clashes erupted on Sunday night between the Islamic State and Kurdish forces on the outskirts of the town.
Video: Fighting in Rebel Offensive in Daraa City
A clip of rebels pursuing their offensive against the regime-held areas of Daraa city:
The “Southern Storm” offensive was launched almost two weeks ago, but so far has not made significant advances in the provincial capital, located on the Jordanian border.
Video: State Journalist Interviews Rebel Prisoners After Posting a “Selfie” with Them
Shade Helweh, the State media journalist who posed for selfies in front of captured rebels (see Sunday’s Syria Daily), interviews one of them:
Helweh’s interviews with six rebels feature lines such as “US, Qatari, and Saudi personnel trained them for 45 days in Salqin, Idleb and later they went to complete their training in Turkey where every trainee was given $200”.
Islamic State Continues Assault on Regime Force in Hasakah in Northeast Syria
The Islamic State renewed attacks on regime forces in Hasakah in northeast Syria on Sunday, attacking in southern and eastern areas of the city.
A pro-Assad outlet reported fighting at the the Panorama Roundabout, the power plant, and the al-Ahdath juvenile detention center to the south of Hasakah and the Sports City and the Gweiran, Nishwa, and Zuhour areas of the city.
The Islamic State has pursued two offensives in the past month, the second beginning on June 27. Reports indicate that Kurdish units have taken over parts of the city while the Syrian army and militia are on the frontline.
See Syria Daily, June 28: Islamic State Advances Inside Hasakah City
