Assad regime and allies hoping to force surrender in opposition area in northwest
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Trying to force another surrender agreement, pro-Assad forces stepped up bombardment of an opposition pocket in northern Homs Province on Monday.
Local sources said the Assad regime and its allies carried out more than 140 airstrikes while attacking on the ground near the town of Rastan and surrounding villages.
Panicked civilians amid bombing:
Horrific moments filled with fear and panic among unarmed civilians, after the aerial bombing of the city of Rustan in the countryside of Homs after the bombing of the Syrian regime forces on the city. pic.twitter.com/dFbgGgZzLb
— حسن جنيد hasan (@Hasan_Jneed) May 1, 2018
The assault paused on Monday afternoon as Russian officers sought an agreement for capitulation and forced removals. Syrian State TV warned that the pause was the last chance before a further escalation in attacks.
BBC journalist Riam Dalati reported from local sources yesterday:
Leaks from #Homs Ctryside negotiations with #Russia:
– Russians 'abrupt & condescending'.
– For ceasefire, #FSA must 'surrender all heavy weapons, open Homs-#Hama Highway & reopen water supply 2 #Salamiyeh".
– No deal yet but "all possibilities still open. Bloodshed must stop".— Riam Dalati (@Dalatrm) April 30, 2018
#FSA in #Homs countryside considering #Russia terms for negotiations tomorrow:
-Heavy weapons handed over within 10 days.
-Safe passage to those wishing to leave.
-Full pardon & reconciliation of entire pocket.
-1 year conscription deferral (as opposed to usual 6 months)— Riam Dalati (@Dalatrm) April 30, 2018
The pocket, between the cities of Hama and Homs, has withstood siege, bombing, and ground assaults since October 2011, after the Free Syrian Army captured the area from the regime.
A regime minister said last week that the enclave would be the next target after the surrender of East Ghouta near Damascus.
Attacks are also continuing on northern Hama Province, outside the area overseen by Turkey alongside rebel forces:
#Pt. Must see: close call with incendiary bombardment on #Lataminah (N. #Hama). Thermite explodes when hits house. pic.twitter.com/5u08IAejcZ
— Qalaat Al Mudiq (@QalaatAlMudiq) May 1, 2018
Regime Announces Surrender of Jihadist Group South of Damascus
The regime has agreed the surrender and forced removal of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham fighters from an area south of Damascus, amid a 10-day assault.
State news agency SANA said on Monday that about 5,000 fighters and their families, will be evacuated in two stages to Idlib Province in northwest Syria.
Pro-Assad forces are continuing their air and ground attacks against the Islamic State in the Yarmouk camp, held by ISIS since early 2015 after it pushed out rebels.
HTS had positions in the neighboring towns of al-Hajar al-Aswad and Yalda.
SANA said that, at the same time, thousands of people will now leave the regime enclave of Kafraya and al-Fu’ah in Idlib Province.
Residents of freed Syrian town queue up to volunteer for army service: https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/residents-of-freed-syrian-town-queue-up-to-volunteer-for-army-service/
“Volunteers in the Damascus suburban region of Eastern Qalamoun are looking forward to freeing the rest of their country from armed militias. The Syrian Army has opened recruiting centers in recently-freed towns and cities in Eastern Qalamoun in Rif Dimashq governorate, with queues of volunteers forming at mobile recruiting stations in the town of al-Rugai.”
Al-Masdar is a pro-Assad site, often recycling propaganda from regime media.
I would do to if you starve my family for six months.