Syria Army Pushes Offensive in Central Homs
Local Editor
Syrian forces and popular committees backed by Russian air strikes launched an offensive in the central province of Homs on Thursday, Syria's state media said.
State television, citing a military source, said the army had begun a military operation in north and northwest Homs province "with the goal of restoring security and stability to the villages and towns in the area".
It said its forces had taken control of the village of Al-Dar al-Kabirah, just north of Homs city.
Russian planes had launched at least 15 air strikes in the area of fighting, killing at least 10 people, six of them militants.
According to the information, the clashes are particularly in south of the Talbisseh, which lies on the highway between the cities of Homs and Hama.
A military source in stated that the Homs operation was "linked strategically" to the Syrian army's operations in neighboring Hama province in recent days.
"The operation will continue until it reaches its goal of securing northern Homs and severing contacts between militants in Hama and militants in Homs," the source said.
Homs city is controlled by the Syrian forces, with the exception of a single neighborhood, and Hama city is also under government control.
But the area between the two provincial capitals, including the highway connecting them, is largely controlled by a patchwork of al-Qaeda branch in the Levant, al-Nusra Front.
The operation in Homs is the latest example of regime forces working with Russian airpower to advance against opposition fighters.
Russia began an air campaign in Syria on September 30, saying it was targeting the "ISIL" group and other terrorists.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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