Assad forces wage major offensive on Homs countryside

 Forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad have launched a major offensive on the outskirts of the besieged city of Homs, state media and its loyalist outlets reported.

Al-Alam, an Iranian satellite channel, reported on Saturday that the extensive military action aimed at purging the town of Azzara and the strategic hills surrounding it.

According to the report, the regime Army soldiers have already encircled hundreds of armed insurgents in the area who have entered the country from Lebanon through the border city of Talkalakh.

The city served as one of the main supply routes and staging areas for the foreign-backed insurgents.

Meanwhile, Masar Press, pro-opposition news agency, said 14 soldiers of forces loyal to Assad have been killed after violent clashes near Talkalakh.

Masar press said rebels took control of three villages near the besieged city of Talkalakh as they captured two amours.

Al-Alam said that Syrian forces broke into multiple units and began approaching the hills around Azzara from several direction in a well-coordinated operation.

Upon reaching the highest hills around the town, Syrian forces started the operation to purge the area off the armed elements.

The army’s access to the heights surrounding Azzara is of strategic importance since it places the town under their fire range and control. Such leverage over the town would further bring to a halt the heavy traffic and movement of the armed elements intruding into Syria from Lebanon, Al-Alam said.