BEIRUT: Hezbollah and the Syrian army Friday struck at militant positions inside the Syrian town of Zabadani at the southern end of Qalamoun, a security source told The Daily Star.
The town was bombarded with heavy artillery and rockets, and a Syrian fighter jet carried out two airstrikes on central Zabadani.
Warplanes also dropped barrels rigged with explosives over the area, according to the source.
The Syrian army, backed by Hezbollah, also pounded militant positions in the village of Bloudan, which overlooks Zabadani, after warning the residents to evacuate it, the source said.
On Thursday, Hezbollah engaged in fierce clashes with Syrian rebels in Zabadani in a fresh push to seize the last militant stronghold along Lebanon’s eastern border.
Hezbollah had prepared to wage an all-out offensive on Zabadani by sending large quantities of weapons and ammunition into Lebanon’s eastern mountain range earlier this week.