Assad Relative and Top Militia Leader Killed in Latakia's Kasab

Hilal Assad, a relative of Syrian President Bashar Assad and commander of the pro-regime National Defense Forces in Latakia, was killed Sunday in clashes with rebels in the Kasab region, state news agency SANA said reported.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Hilal and at least seven of his men were killed in clashes with the extremist al-Nusra Front and other Islamist brigades in the town of Kasab.

Rebels also fired two rocket-propelled grenades at areas in the city of Latakia, a regime stronghold, according to the Observatory, amid fierce clashes in the vicinity of the border town of al-Samra.

Since Friday, Syrian troops and rebels have been fighting for control of the Kasab border post on Turkey's frontier.

The battle erupted after three jihadist groups, including al-Qaida's Syrian affiliate al-Nusra Front, announced the launch of an offensive Tuesday in Latakia dubbed "Anfal", or "spoils of war."

The Observatory said the rebels overran the crossing but were still battling loyalist forces in the area, while activists posted a video on YouTube showing jihadists from Ansar al-Sham flying a black flag over Kasab.

A Syrian military source denied the fall of Kasab, as a security source said the rebels had infiltrated from Turkey.

The battle for Kasab erupted Friday and at least 80 fighters on both sides have been killed.

According to the Observatory, which relies on a network of activists and medics on the ground for its reports, fighting in Latakia spread Saturday to a string of regime-held villages.

"Significant military reinforcements have been sent to the government forces," it said.

Latakia province, ancestral home of the Assad family, is considered a government stronghold, and many of its residents belong to the same Alawite minority as the president.

Swathes of the province have remained relatively insulated from Syria's conflict, which has reportedly killed more than 146,000 people.

Turkey, which supports the rebellion against Assad's government and hosts more than 750,000 refugees, worries jihadists fighting in Syria could threaten its own security.