Syrian Army Makes Major Advances in Homs

The Syrian army made major advances in Reef (outskirts of) Homs in Western Syria, foiling the attempts made by the armed rebel groups in nearby areas to help besieged militants in the Homs region.
The army’s infantry units supported by artillery and air defense units entered al-Khalediya region in Reef Homs, an informed Syrian military source told FNA on Saturday.

The source noted that despite heavy clashes between the Syrian army and the armed rebels in al-Khalediya, the army could make major advances and destroyed tens of rebel bastions in the region.

“As the army suddenly entered al-Khalediya, terrorist groups and armed rebels in adjacent areas tried hard to help the rebels besieged in the region, but the Syrian army confronted them,” the military source added.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized attacks by well-armed gangs against Syrian police forces and border guards being reported across the country.

Hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have been killed, when some protest rallies turned into armed clashes.

The government blames outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups for the deaths, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated from abroad.

In October 2011, calm was almost restored in the Arab state after President Assad started a reform initiative in the country, but Israel, the US and its Arab allies sought hard to bring the country into chaos through any possible means. Tel Aviv, Washington and some Arab capitals have been staging various plots to topple President Bashar al-Assad, who is well known in the world for his anti-Israeli stances.