Rebels fight Syrian army near Assad heartland
Syrian rebels and army troops clashed in northwestern Latakia, close to President Bashar al-Assad’s ancestral home
Islamist rebels and Syrian army troops on Thursday were engaged in heavy fighting in Syria’s northwestern Latakia province in areas close to President Bashar al-Assad’s ancestral home, the army and rebels said.
An army source told state news agency SANA fighter jets hit insurgent hideouts in the northern Latakia countryside with “tens killed and injured.”
Rebels have in the past sought to bring their four-year-long battle to topple Assad’s rule close to the coastal areas in government-held Latakia, the stronghold of Assad’s minority Alawite sect. Latakia is the main port in Syria and crucial to the rebels goal of toppling Assad’s government.
Two rebel sources said the fighting was near the mountains of Jabal al-Akrad, close to some of the highest peaks in Syria including Nabi Younis that overlook Alawite villages and close to Qardaha, the hometown of the Assad family.
“The capture of the peaks would make the Alawite villages in our firing range,” said one rebel field commander from Ahrar al Sham based in Idlib on Skpye.
Insurgents have captured strategic territory in the South and in northwestern Idlib province, where they have edged closer to Latakia.
In August 2013, Islamist rebels helped by foreign fighters were able to briefly capture villages populated by Assad’s Alawite minority.
Diplomats say rebels are trying to pressure the overstretched army on as many fronts as possible to force the overtaxed military to spread its resources ever more thinly.
Also Read
-
Downing of U.S. drone suggests Syria imposing red lines on air war
The U.S. military has said it lost contact with one of its drones over northwest Syria but has not given the cause of the incident over Latakia province Analysis -
Assad relative assassinated in Syria
Mohamed al-Assad was shot dead on Friday in Latakia province, the Syrian Observatory said Middle East -
Syrian opposition claims has evidence of chlorine gas attack
OPCW says a 13th consignment of chemicals was shipped out of Latakia port Middle East -
Last Syrian vineyard keeps wine flowing despite war
Sandro Saade planted grape vines on the tree-lined peaks of the Mediterranean province of Latakia in 2003 Features -
Syrian refugees see future in continental Europe
Many refugees survive a seaborne ordeal from small, rickety fishing boats from Latakia Features -
Clashes between Assad and Nusra forces kill 50
Government forces clashed with Al-Qaeda-affiliated militants backed by other armed Islamist groups in a village in Latakia Middle East -
Assad’s forces deploy in Latakia to repel rebel offensive
The FSA says dozens of Syrian troops were killed in an attack in the strategic Latakia province Middle East -
In Assad’s coastal heartland, Syria’s war creeps closer
Nervous Latakia city residents say heavy artillery fire could easily strike them from that vantage point Perspective -
Syria rebels urge U.S. to create ‘safe havens’
Successive attempts at launching peace talks have so far proved fruitless Middle East
