(Zaman Al Wasl)- Syrian regime troops advanced Sunday toward a rebel town near the Turkish border as they pressed a Russian-backed offensive that has prompted at least 70,000 people to flee, a monitor and activists said.
The town of Tal Rifaat is around 20 kilometres (12.5 miles) from the Turkish frontier, where Syrians who have fled fighting near Aleppo city have been gathering since the assault was launched Monday, AFP reported.
It is one of the last rebel strongholds in the north of Aleppo province and regime troops are just seven kilometres away, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said regime troops want to push north to the border with Turkey to prevent rebels and weapons from entering Syrian territory.
Syrian pro-regime newspaper Al-Watan said Sunday that Tal Rifaat would be a major prize for the regime.
"If it falls, the army will be able to progress and seize control of all of the northern part of Aleppo province," the paper said.
Regime forces backed by intense Russian air strikes have closed in on Aleppo city in their most significant advance since Moscow intervened in September in support of Bashar al-Assad's government.
Syria's mainstream rebels are now threatened with collapse after the regime severed their main supply line to Aleppo city.
Opposition forces along with roughly 350,000 civilians are in rebel-held areas of the divided city of Aleppo and face the risk of a government siege.
Syrian activists launched a social media campaign urging rebel factions operating in Aleppo to merge in one group called it ‘The Army of Aleppo to deter regime offensive and avoid collapse.
Punitive blockades have been employed elsewhere in the nearly five-year civil war, causing dire humanitarian situations including starvation.
Since Saturday night the Assad forces have surrounded the rebel bastion of Daraya in Damascus province. (With AFP)
The town of Tal Rifaat is around 20 kilometres (12.5 miles) from the Turkish frontier, where Syrians who have fled fighting near Aleppo city have been gathering since the assault was launched Monday, AFP reported.
It is one of the last rebel strongholds in the north of Aleppo province and regime troops are just seven kilometres away, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said regime troops want to push north to the border with Turkey to prevent rebels and weapons from entering Syrian territory.
Syrian pro-regime newspaper Al-Watan said Sunday that Tal Rifaat would be a major prize for the regime.
"If it falls, the army will be able to progress and seize control of all of the northern part of Aleppo province," the paper said.
Regime forces backed by intense Russian air strikes have closed in on Aleppo city in their most significant advance since Moscow intervened in September in support of Bashar al-Assad's government.
Syria's mainstream rebels are now threatened with collapse after the regime severed their main supply line to Aleppo city.
Opposition forces along with roughly 350,000 civilians are in rebel-held areas of the divided city of Aleppo and face the risk of a government siege.
Syrian activists launched a social media campaign urging rebel factions operating in Aleppo to merge in one group called it ‘The Army of Aleppo to deter regime offensive and avoid collapse.
Punitive blockades have been employed elsewhere in the nearly five-year civil war, causing dire humanitarian situations including starvation.
Since Saturday night the Assad forces have surrounded the rebel bastion of Daraya in Damascus province. (With AFP)
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