(Zaman Al Wasl)- Syrian rebels operating in the coastal region, Bashar al-Assad's historical stronghold, have thwarted army attacks on al Akrad and Turken Mountains on Wednesday as Russia warplanes continued air strikes on their bastions in support for regime troops on the ground.
Activists said rebels have taken control of Gamam village in the countryside of Latakia after fierce fighting with regime army, killing 15 troops.
In relevant development, U.S. security officials and independent experts said Moscow's military force in Syria has grown to about 4,000 personnel, according to Reuters.
Despite the Russian air strikes, the offensives have failed to make significant advances, the U.S. officials and independent experts revealed.
On Oct. 20, a senior pro-Syrian government military source told Reuters at least three Russian citizens fighting with regime forces had been killed by a shell that hit their position near Latakia. Russian authorities strongly denied at the time that any of their military personnel had been killed.
The main Russian base is at the Bassel al-Assad International Airport near the port city of Latakia. All of Moscow's fixed-wing aircraft are flying from there in support of ground offensives by the Syrian army and foreign Shiite militias, the defense official said.
Three other bases - Hama, Sharyat and Tiyas - are being used for helicopter gunships, he said. The Russians began operating from Tiyas only this week, the official said.
More than 250,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began with anti-government protests in March 2011.
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