Well-informed sources said on Wednesday Syrian regime army backed by Lebanese ally Hezbollah may take full control of the besieged city of Zabadani in the few coming hours after a 50-day campaign to capture it from rebels.
Rebel sources said the fall of the city, about 45 km (30 miles) northwest of the capital Damascus, is very imminent since rebels have been trapped in few buildings amid lack of ammunition and weapons.
The rebels in Zabadani have appealed to their counterparts near Damascus to send reinforcements and ammunition as well to escalate attacks to relieve pressure on them.
Hezbollah militiamen and the army have controlled most of Zabadani city after intense aerial bombardments and heavy artillery fire on rebels hideouts.
The control of the city is seen as crucial to consolidate government-held areas linking Lebanon and Syria. Zabadani is a former popular resort on the main Beirut-Damascus highway, according to Reuters.
Its capture would be a strategic gain for al-Assad, whose army is battling on several other fronts with groups including non-jihadist rebels and hardline Islamic State militants, Reuters added.
A victory over the rebels would also secure a corridor for Hezbollah to transport fighters and arms. The Shi'ite Muslim group's military role inside Syria has been growing steadily since the start of the conflict in 2011.
Zaman Al Wasl
Comments About This Article
Please fill the fields below.