This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/19/syrian-government-forces-rebel-border
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Syrian government forces lay siege to strategic rebel-held border town | Syrian government forces lay siege to strategic rebel-held border town |
| (1 day later) | |
| Syrian troops backed by tanks and warplanes launched an assault on Sunday on a strategic rebel-held town near the Lebanese border, killing at least 30 people, activists said. | Syrian troops backed by tanks and warplanes launched an assault on Sunday on a strategic rebel-held town near the Lebanese border, killing at least 30 people, activists said. |
| The town of Qusair has been besieged for weeks by regime troops and pro-government gunmen backed by the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group. | The town of Qusair has been besieged for weeks by regime troops and pro-government gunmen backed by the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group. |
| The siege is part of a withering offensive forces loyal to the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, have been pushing in recent weeks to regain control of the towns and villages along the Lebanese frontier. | The siege is part of a withering offensive forces loyal to the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, have been pushing in recent weeks to regain control of the towns and villages along the Lebanese frontier. |
| The region's strategic value is twofold: it links Damascus with the Mediterranean coastal enclave that is the heartland of Assad's Alawite sect; and rebels smuggle weapons and supplies from Lebanon across the porous frontier to opposition fighters in Syria. | The region's strategic value is twofold: it links Damascus with the Mediterranean coastal enclave that is the heartland of Assad's Alawite sect; and rebels smuggle weapons and supplies from Lebanon across the porous frontier to opposition fighters in Syria. |
| The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 30 people, including 16 rebel fighters and one woman, were killed in Qusair in morning fighting, but that the death toll was expected to rise as government troops continue to try to push into the town. | The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 30 people, including 16 rebel fighters and one woman, were killed in Qusair in morning fighting, but that the death toll was expected to rise as government troops continue to try to push into the town. |
| A government official in the nearby provincial capital of Homs claimed regime troops had encircled the town and that "the offensive to liberate Qusair has begun". | A government official in the nearby provincial capital of Homs claimed regime troops had encircled the town and that "the offensive to liberate Qusair has begun". |
| The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the army had built up its forces on three fronts around Qusair while leaving one clear for "safe passage for fleeing civilians and the armed terrorists who want to surrender". | The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the army had built up its forces on three fronts around Qusair while leaving one clear for "safe passage for fleeing civilians and the armed terrorists who want to surrender". |
| The official said government forces have advanced into the town, taking over the municipality building and other vital government institutions. | The official said government forces have advanced into the town, taking over the municipality building and other vital government institutions. |
| But Hadi Abdullah, an activist in Qusair, denied the regime made any advances on the ground. He said the municipality was destroyed in fighting six months ago, and that there was no government building left to take over. | But Hadi Abdullah, an activist in Qusair, denied the regime made any advances on the ground. He said the municipality was destroyed in fighting six months ago, and that there was no government building left to take over. |
| He said heavy shelling began late on Saturday and continued through Sunday, and that civilians had sought shelter in basements | He said heavy shelling began late on Saturday and continued through Sunday, and that civilians had sought shelter in basements |
| "It's the heaviest since the beginning of the revolution," he said, adding that at least 17 houses had been destroyed. | "It's the heaviest since the beginning of the revolution," he said, adding that at least 17 houses had been destroyed. |
| The discrepancy in the accounts could not be immediately verified. | The discrepancy in the accounts could not be immediately verified. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |