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| Syria Claims Disruption of a Rebel Supply Line | Syria Claims Disruption of a Rebel Supply Line |
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| BEIRUT, Lebanon — Syria’s state news media said Thursday that government forces had “restored complete control” in a strategic, bitterly contested town east of Damascus, offering new claims — disputed by rebel fighters on the ground — that loyalist troops are reversing the flow of battle in some areas, severing a crucial insurgent supply line on the approaches to the capital. | BEIRUT, Lebanon — Syria’s state news media said Thursday that government forces had “restored complete control” in a strategic, bitterly contested town east of Damascus, offering new claims — disputed by rebel fighters on the ground — that loyalist troops are reversing the flow of battle in some areas, severing a crucial insurgent supply line on the approaches to the capital. |
| SANA, the official news agency, said that soldiers fighting on the side of President Bashar al-Assad had overwhelmed the opposition in the town, Otaiba, and had “discovered a number of tunnels which were used by terrorists to move and transfer weapons and ammunition.” | SANA, the official news agency, said that soldiers fighting on the side of President Bashar al-Assad had overwhelmed the opposition in the town, Otaiba, and had “discovered a number of tunnels which were used by terrorists to move and transfer weapons and ammunition.” |
| Terrorist is the word used by Mr. Assad to describe armed opponents, backed by the West and many Arab states, seeking his overthrow in a revolt that is now more than two years old. | Terrorist is the word used by Mr. Assad to describe armed opponents, backed by the West and many Arab states, seeking his overthrow in a revolt that is now more than two years old. |
| The rebels see Otaiba as a crucial way station for supplies of weaponry and food in their campaign to advance toward the capital, Damascus, and have been resisting a furious government onslaught there for weeks. | The rebels see Otaiba as a crucial way station for supplies of weaponry and food in their campaign to advance toward the capital, Damascus, and have been resisting a furious government onslaught there for weeks. |
| Rebel fighters on the ground said Thursday that, despite the official claims, the insurgents were still holding on to some parts of the town. | Rebel fighters on the ground said Thursday that, despite the official claims, the insurgents were still holding on to some parts of the town. |
| An activist who had been involved in the fighting and who wished to be identified only as Ammar said the claimed capture of Otaiba was an exaggeration. “Both sides are still fighting,” the activist said. “The regime are attacking from the east side, the Free Syrian Army from the west side.” | An activist who had been involved in the fighting and who wished to be identified only as Ammar said the claimed capture of Otaiba was an exaggeration. “Both sides are still fighting,” the activist said. “The regime are attacking from the east side, the Free Syrian Army from the west side.” |
| Civilians had fled the town, the activist said, acknowledging that the fighting had disrupted rebel supply chains. “We have convoys stopped now because roads have been closed and we can’t use them for the time being.” | Civilians had fled the town, the activist said, acknowledging that the fighting had disrupted rebel supply chains. “We have convoys stopped now because roads have been closed and we can’t use them for the time being.” |
| Another activist, who identified himself as Jamal, called Otaiba a “very essential location.” | Another activist, who identified himself as Jamal, called Otaiba a “very essential location.” |
| “Maybe there is some retreat” by the rebels, he said, “but not full withdrawal.” | “Maybe there is some retreat” by the rebels, he said, “but not full withdrawal.” |
| Several other activists offered similar accounts, saying that the fighting was continuing and that government forces had sent in reinforcements to confront rebels trying to push them back. | Several other activists offered similar accounts, saying that the fighting was continuing and that government forces had sent in reinforcements to confront rebels trying to push them back. |
| In the confusion of battle, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring body based in Britain and reliant on a network of opposition sources inside Syria, said Thursday that government forces had indeed overrun the town late on Wednesday, forcing rebels to try to regroup. | In the confusion of battle, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring body based in Britain and reliant on a network of opposition sources inside Syria, said Thursday that government forces had indeed overrun the town late on Wednesday, forcing rebels to try to regroup. |
| A government victory in the town could prove a setback to the rebel effort to amass forces for a thrust closer to Damascus, where government forces remain in control. It would also provide loyalist forces with a morale-bolstering success after a string of losses between Damascus and the Jordanian frontier to the south. | |
| In a possible response to government advances, the Syrian Observatory said, rebels in the central city of Hama, an emblem of revolt against Mr. Assad, carried out attacks with machine guns and rockets early on Thursday. Nine people were killed, including seven rebel fighters, the Syrian Observatory said. | In a possible response to government advances, the Syrian Observatory said, rebels in the central city of Hama, an emblem of revolt against Mr. Assad, carried out attacks with machine guns and rockets early on Thursday. Nine people were killed, including seven rebel fighters, the Syrian Observatory said. |
| In the contested western Syria town of Qusayr near the Lebanon border, an anti-Assad activist reached through Skype said government forces had bombed the town center with helicopters six times on Thursday, killing and wounding an unspecified number of residents and destroying 25 houses. “We weren’t pulling bodies out,” said the activist, who identified himself as Hadi Abdulla. “We were collecting bits and pieces and putting limbs together.” The Syrian Observatory said at least 10 people were killed. | In the contested western Syria town of Qusayr near the Lebanon border, an anti-Assad activist reached through Skype said government forces had bombed the town center with helicopters six times on Thursday, killing and wounding an unspecified number of residents and destroying 25 houses. “We weren’t pulling bodies out,” said the activist, who identified himself as Hadi Abdulla. “We were collecting bits and pieces and putting limbs together.” The Syrian Observatory said at least 10 people were killed. |
| Qusayr has become a sectarian flash point that has threatened to expand the war into Lebanon. The Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah has sent fighters there in recent weeks, and rebels, who are drawn mostly from Syria’s Sunni majority, have threatened to retaliate across the border in response. | Qusayr has become a sectarian flash point that has threatened to expand the war into Lebanon. The Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah has sent fighters there in recent weeks, and rebels, who are drawn mostly from Syria’s Sunni majority, have threatened to retaliate across the border in response. |
| Elsewhere, international concern escalated over the fate of two high-ranking Syrian church clergymen from Aleppo who were kidnapped on Monday. Colleagues of the kidnap victims — the Greek Orthodox archbishop, Paul Yazigi, and the Syriac Orthodox archbishop, Yohanna Ibrahim — said they remained captive, contradicting unconfirmed reports earlier in the week that they had been freed. Their whereabouts and kidnappers were unknown. | |
| Mikhail Bogdanov, the deputy foreign minister of Russia, a supporter of the Syrian government, said on Thursday during a visit to Beirut that Russia condemned the kidnapping and was making efforts to secure the release of the two clergymen. | |
Hwaida Saad reported from Beirut, and Alan Cowell from London. Hania Mourtada contributed reporting from | Hwaida Saad reported from Beirut, and Alan Cowell from London. Hania Mourtada contributed reporting from Beirut; Hala Droubi from Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Rick Gladstone from New York. |