Regime Offensive Begins in Key Area of Qalamoun

A well-placed EA correspondent reports heavy clashes on Friday. Hezbollah, Shia militias, and shabiha, pro-Assad militia, are involved as well as the Syrian Arab Army.

The Army is primarily taking care of logistics and providing air support. The military is also carrying out long-range shelling, along with Hezbollah.

Insurgents had said in October that they expected the assault before the onset of the winter rains. One asserted

We are getting ready to be attacked in Qalamoun. All the factions have set aside their differences and are prepared for the attack. We know it’s coming soon.

Assad forces hope to connect their Damascus-Homs corridor with the Mediterranean port of Tartous, the gateway to the coastal mountains running north to Latakia. Regime control of Qalamoun would also seal off the eorder with Lebanon, cutting access for insurgents, weapons, and supplies.

The raging battles in Qalamoun are leading to a rising influx of Syrian refugees into the Lebanese territories.          

Hundreds of Syrian families from the town of Karra have flocked to Lebanon's Arsal as a result of ongoing clashes, Lebanese LBC reprted.

(with EAWorldView)