BEIRUT: Syrian rebels have launched an offensive near the border with Lebanon to relieve pressure on the Qalamoun front north of Damascus with fighting flaring Thursday around the town of Qusair, which was taken last year by regime troops backed by Hezbollah fighters.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human rights reported clashes between troops and rebels in the Qusair area, saying there were casualties on both sides.
Syria’s state news agency, meanwhile, said government forces “wiped out” a group of gunmen who were trying to infiltrate from Lebanon.
SANA said the gunmen were trying to head in the direction of Qusair.
A Lebanese security source said government shelling from Syria wounded nine Syrian fighters on the Lebanese border who had fled fighting in their country.
“Nine Syrians were wounded as a result of cross-border artillery shelling from Syria that struck the area of Khirbet Daoud in the Arsal countryside,” the source told AFP.