People of Zabadani town northwest Damascus, who fled the two-month-old offensive by Syrian forces and key ally Hezbollah militia, have been forced to leave neighboring towns of Bloudan and al-Mamoura under army threat to Madhaya and Bukin villages, activists said on Sunday warning of an imminent massacre.
25 families of them were transferred to unknown places in army vehicles, they said.
The displaced in the tourist town of Bloudan were moved without their luggage or personal properties to Madhaya and Bukin villages to isolate them from pro-regime towns as well to use them as human shields, according to activists.
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.
On Saturday, Islamist rebels killed 20 Syrian army soldiers and Hezbollah militants in the western neighborhood of Zabadani, activists said.
Fighters of the dominant Ahrar al-Sham movement and the al-Qaeda branch Nusra Front, who launched attacks on regime bastions nearby Zabadani to ease offensive on their fellow fighters, have taken control of number of checkpoints in the 'Eastern Mountain', killing 20 soldiers and Hezbollah militants.
Days ago, besieged rebels of Zabadani appealed to their counterparts near Damascus to send reinforcements and ammunition as well to escalate attacks to relieve pressure on them.
Zabadani 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.
25 families of them were transferred to unknown places in army vehicles, they said.
The displaced in the tourist town of Bloudan were moved without their luggage or personal properties to Madhaya and Bukin villages to isolate them from pro-regime towns as well to use them as human shields, according to activists.
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.
On Saturday, Islamist rebels killed 20 Syrian army soldiers and Hezbollah militants in the western neighborhood of Zabadani, activists said.
Fighters of the dominant Ahrar al-Sham movement and the al-Qaeda branch Nusra Front, who launched attacks on regime bastions nearby Zabadani to ease offensive on their fellow fighters, have taken control of number of checkpoints in the 'Eastern Mountain', killing 20 soldiers and Hezbollah militants.
Days ago, besieged rebels of Zabadani appealed to their counterparts near Damascus to send reinforcements and ammunition as well to escalate attacks to relieve pressure on them.
Zabadani 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.
Zaman Al Wasl
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