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| Syrian government forces and Hezbollah seize border town of Yabroud | Syrian government forces and Hezbollah seize border town of Yabroud |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| BEIRUT — Syria said its army took control of a key town on the Lebanese border on Sunday, racking up another strategic gain for the government as the conflict enters its fourth year. | BEIRUT — Syria said its army took control of a key town on the Lebanese border on Sunday, racking up another strategic gain for the government as the conflict enters its fourth year. |
| Syrian army forces, backed by troops from the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, have been tightening their noose on the town of Yabroud, just a few miles from the border, for months. | Syrian army forces, backed by troops from the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, have been tightening their noose on the town of Yabroud, just a few miles from the border, for months. |
| The battle for Yabroud is part of a wider Syrian army and Hezbollah offensive to secure the rugged border area of Qalamoun, cutting rebel supply lines into Syria. The fall of the area’s main town would strike a blow to rebel morale as, after three grinding years of conflict, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad steadily makes gains. | The battle for Yabroud is part of a wider Syrian army and Hezbollah offensive to secure the rugged border area of Qalamoun, cutting rebel supply lines into Syria. The fall of the area’s main town would strike a blow to rebel morale as, after three grinding years of conflict, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad steadily makes gains. |
| A little more than 24 hours after its forces first entered the town on Friday night, the Syrian state news agency, SANA, said that “terrorist groups” in the town had been “devastated” and that government forces were combing the area for explosives. | A little more than 24 hours after its forces first entered the town on Friday night, the Syrian state news agency, SANA, said that “terrorist groups” in the town had been “devastated” and that government forces were combing the area for explosives. |
| Meanwhile, the Lebanese army said that Syrian warplanes had strafed Lebanese territory as they pursued gunmen who had fled across the border, risking further destabilization in Lebanon. | Meanwhile, the Lebanese army said that Syrian warplanes had strafed Lebanese territory as they pursued gunmen who had fled across the border, risking further destabilization in Lebanon. |
| Despite the claims of a government victory, Islam Alloush, a spokesman for the Islamic Front, an amalgamation of seven Islamist rebel groups, said his fighters and militants from the al-Qaeda linked Jabhat al-Nusra were still engaged in clashes in Yabroud, repelling attempts by pro-government forces to enter. He said four Hezbollah fighters had been killed. | Despite the claims of a government victory, Islam Alloush, a spokesman for the Islamic Front, an amalgamation of seven Islamist rebel groups, said his fighters and militants from the al-Qaeda linked Jabhat al-Nusra were still engaged in clashes in Yabroud, repelling attempts by pro-government forces to enter. He said four Hezbollah fighters had been killed. |
| Activists said government forces were in control of the majority of the town, although there were still rebel-held pockets. | Activists said government forces were in control of the majority of the town, although there were still rebel-held pockets. |
| Hezbollah’s television channel, Al-Manar, broadcast footage from what it said was Yabroud’s town center Sunday. Men in fatigues raised a Syrian flag on a pole in the middle of the street, while another held aloft a portrait of Assad. | Hezbollah’s television channel, Al-Manar, broadcast footage from what it said was Yabroud’s town center Sunday. Men in fatigues raised a Syrian flag on a pole in the middle of the street, while another held aloft a portrait of Assad. |
| On Syrian state television, an unnamed army soldier said the seizure of the town was of importance because it secured the Lebanon-Syria border regions and also cuts off the supply roads. | On Syrian state television, an unnamed army soldier said the seizure of the town was of importance because it secured the Lebanon-Syria border regions and also cuts off the supply roads. |
| Hezbollah and Lebanese officials have claimed that the Syrian town is the source of several vehicles packed with explosive that have struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in recent months. | Hezbollah and Lebanese officials have claimed that the Syrian town is the source of several vehicles packed with explosive that have struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in recent months. |
| The sprawling suburbs in the Lebanese capital, a base of support for Hezbollah, have been hit by regular car bombs in retaliation for the movement’s backing of Assad. Celebratory gunfire could be heard in the capital on Sunday after news of Yabroud’s capture. | The sprawling suburbs in the Lebanese capital, a base of support for Hezbollah, have been hit by regular car bombs in retaliation for the movement’s backing of Assad. Celebratory gunfire could be heard in the capital on Sunday after news of Yabroud’s capture. |
| The Qalamoun offensive has sent a new wave of refugees fleeing into Lebanon. For most of the civil war, Yabroud had been largely sheltered from the fighting that has engulfed Syria, its population of around 60,000 swelling with the internally displaced. | The Qalamoun offensive has sent a new wave of refugees fleeing into Lebanon. For most of the civil war, Yabroud had been largely sheltered from the fighting that has engulfed Syria, its population of around 60,000 swelling with the internally displaced. |
| The offensive in the area drew fighters from the al-Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra to the town and some remained there Sunday, according to activists. Most, however, retreated to nearby Flita and Rankous, they said. A senior Nusra commander was killed on the outskirts of the town on Friday as the army and Hezbollah pushed into the city limits for the first time. | The offensive in the area drew fighters from the al-Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra to the town and some remained there Sunday, according to activists. Most, however, retreated to nearby Flita and Rankous, they said. A senior Nusra commander was killed on the outskirts of the town on Friday as the army and Hezbollah pushed into the city limits for the first time. |
| Later Sunday, the Syrian air force fired rockets onto Lebanese territory as some rebels retreated across the border, residents of the Lebanese border town of Arsal said. The Lebanese army said Syrian planes carried out two raids east of the town, where the Lebanese state has little control. | |
| Fifty casualties from Yabroud were brought over the border to Arsal for treatment, said Kassem Zain, a doctor who runs a field hospital in the town. Eight people died, he said. | |
| Rebels have complained that promised new weapons deliveries have not materialized but vow to keep fighting for the town and its surroundings. | Rebels have complained that promised new weapons deliveries have not materialized but vow to keep fighting for the town and its surroundings. |
| “The battle for Qalamoun does not end with Yabroud,” said Bassel Foaad, a Qalamoun-based activist who had sought refuge in Arsal. | “The battle for Qalamoun does not end with Yabroud,” said Bassel Foaad, a Qalamoun-based activist who had sought refuge in Arsal. |
| Suzan Haidamous in Beirut contributed to this report. |