Syria Rebels Take Key Qalamoun Town from Army
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Rebels in Syria seized a key town Friday in Qalamoun province that has been under army control since the outbreak of the conflict, a monitoring group and the opposition said.
Hundreds of rebels now control most of Deir Attiyeh, with the exception of the Bassel hospital and a small hill, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
The majority Christian town north of Damascus is home to 10,000 people and is situated on the strategic route linking the capital to Homs in central Syria.
It was seized by the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and al-Nusra Front, as well as other Islamist fighters, said the Observatory, which relies on a network of activists, doctors and lawyers on the ground for its reports.
The opposition National Coalition welcomed the capture of Deir Attiyeh.
"After fierce fighting lasting several days, the (mainstream rebel) Free Syrian Army in Damascus province has successfully liberated the town of Deir Attiyeh in the Qalamoun area," the Coalition said in a statement.
"It is a success that exposes the lies of the regime (of President Bashar Assad) about fictitious victories," the opposition added.
The rebel advance comes three days after the army took Qara, which for many months had been under opposition control.
A Syrian security source told Agence France Presse "the terrorists that were expelled from Qara have found refuge in... buildings on the edges of Deir Attiyeh and the army is currently handling the problem."
Assad's regime refers to the armed opposition as "terrorists."
His army, backed by fighters from Lebanon's Hizbullah, has fought rebels all week in several areas of Qalamoun, which is strategic because it is near the Lebanese border.
Regime warplanes on Friday staged 16 air strikes on Qalamoun, the Observatory said.
22 November 2013, 17:06
1911
so now hezbulshitan must accept 14march offer (withdraw from syria ) and form a new gov coz later we will not accept it :)
22 November 2013, 18:50
413
You are asking for a great chunk of the Lebanese population to not be represented. Lets not forget who entered Syria first. Wasn't it loyal supporter of hariri from the northern city of tripoli who had militants and weapons smuggled to the rebels.
22 November 2013, 17:33
159
Regime warplanes on Friday staged 16 air strikes on Qalamoun, the Observatory said.
.... and the legendary sectarian warriors of HA advance towards achieving their objectives of exterminating the takfiris. I like to see how they would run raising white flags when they are at the receiving end of air strikes. They are protecting Shia villages in Aleppo, Qalamoun, and Damascus.
22 November 2013, 17:38
156
"After fierce fighting lasting several days, the (mainstream rebel) Free Syrian Army in Damascus province has successfully liberated the town of Deir Attiyeh in the Qalamoun area," the Coalition said in a statement.
22 November 2013, 17:48
187
Why is everything about religion w/ HA/IRAN followers? Seriously don't you see that GOD will not commend or stand for anyone who lives by the sword? HA has proved one thing as has the Syrian regime: KILL to thwart anyone who stands in our way (while using Israel as the same ol lame excuse for the bloodshed of innocent people). GO REBELS!
22 November 2013, 18:39
415
Maybe its just the majority of Lebanese don't support rebels affiliated with al qeada
22 November 2013, 17:51
176
What da hell does Dr G has anything to do with Deir Attiyeh.
22 November 2013, 17:52
717
I'm sure the "majority Christian town" is welcoming the islamists with rice just as the Christian town of Maalula did.
Please watch...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xNTRd-W2hg
22 November 2013, 17:55
00
While you wait for Dr Geagea's response can you answer me what is the difference between what the Islamist Takferis are threatening to do to the Christians and what Bashar and his father already did to us?
22 November 2013, 18:14
915
No Ice-man, I am not Aouni. I am Lebanese and a proud Australian.
I hate the idea of blindly following an individual or party. I would vote for the FPM but don't follow them. I would also vote for the Kataeb, and I don't fear or hate hezbollah nor do I agree or support them 100%. I don't like the Amal party, PSP or Mustaqbul movement because they are thugs, followers of a flip flopping sectarian psycho, and a Ksa, sectarian, vengeful party... respectively.
I support the Lebanese Armed Forces and President of the Republic of Lebanon! Both of whom are above the sectarian rubbish. I would like a military coup to rid the lebanese of the sectarian selfish politicians that mostly occupy parliament!
22 November 2013, 18:24
915
banisitzeinab.... ask and you shall receive. many more if you really wish to see the truth.
Be careful before watching this link... it is very disturbing! God rest his soul.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ead_1372329728
22 November 2013, 18:37
514
You must be stupid the hizbullah is fighting alongside the syrian army and the syrian army are fighting the islamists who are killing civilians due to their religions. Which means HA is fighting to help the christians. Qusaiyr village is full of christians and guess who defeated the rebels there and defended the people HA and Syrian army.
22 November 2013, 18:46
00
So in Iraq hizbullah was fighting against the US army and the US army was fighting the islamists sent from syria who were killing civilians due to their religions. Which means HA was fighting to kill the Christians. Thank you for your logical analysis lebanese4life
22 November 2013, 18:55
713
There is no FSA they are one with al nusra and other terrorist affiated with al qeada.
22 November 2013, 19:07
00
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said Monday that 90 percent of foreign terrorists who infiltrate Iraq did so via Syria. 2009 09 01
thank you bashar
22 November 2013, 19:38
136
how naive some can be... believing that hezbollah is in syria to protect....lebanon! LOL
now th war all boils down to protecting the distribution of oil to the west between the gulf states pipeline and russia iran and syria 's pipeline...
why are M8ers so in a hurry to finish with the oil file? LOL
hezbollah protecting christians and lebanon is good to feed their proud little empty minded sheep and they did a great job at it! LOL
22 November 2013, 22:16
127
Allahū Akbar, may God bless the FSA and grant them the ultimate victory against the tyrant.
22 November 2013, 22:27
114
WARNING! Infected link, open it only if you have a strong and updated antivirus !!!!
22 November 2013, 23:39
47
"In Deir Attiyeh, two suicide car bombers detonated their explosives outside a hospital, killing the guards, Syrian state television said. It said the attackers were Saudi citizens." That was two days ago, according to Time Magazine online, although it cited this same guy,Rami Abdurrahman, who is the Syrian Observatory ("... who obtains his information from a network of activists on the ground"), for that claim. So now guerillas control this town? Let's give this story a day to ripen.
23 November 2013, 01:12
22
it looks like more hizbo terroristas r gona get burried in Iraq. jejeje
