Syria forces strike strategic town

Syrian soldiers backed by tanks and fighter aircraft have launched an offensive on the strategic town of Qusayr in the western governorate of Homs.

On Sunday, the Syrian military pounded the town, located near the Lebanese border, with airstrikes and artillery bombardment that killed dozens of foreign-backed militants.

“We struck from several fronts — south, east and northeast,” a soldier told the Syrian state television from Qusayr.

He added that the troops captured the southern part of Qusayr, the town hall and nearby buildings, and moving towards the outskirts of the western sector of the town.

“The armed men fled towards the northern sector but we are also advancing on that area to eradicate all armed presence,” the soldier stated.

He went on to say that “100 armed men were killed” in the Qusayr assault.

According to a military source, the troops were in control of the town center, and that the Syrian national flag was now flying over the municipality premises.

The border town, which connects the capital city of Damascus to the Mediterranean coast, has been the focus of fierce clashes in recent weeks.

Heavy fighting has also been reported in an eastern suburb of the capital. A number of militants have been killed in the clashes.

Unrest erupted in Syria over two years ago. Many people, including large numbers of Syrian soldiers and security personnel, have been killed in the violence.

The Syrian government says that the chaos in the country is being orchestrated from outside, and there are reports that a very large number of the militants are foreign nationals.

In addition, several international human rights organizations say the militants have committed war crimes in Syria.