BEIRUT: Hezbollah fighters and Syrian army troops launched fresh attacks Saturday on the southern Qalamoun city of Zabadani, near the Lebanese border, tightening a siege on rebels holed up in the area.
A security source told The Daily Star that ground forces pushed intoZabadani around dawn, accompanied by intense air raids and shelling.
Several casualties were reported on both sides as Hezbollahattmpted to storm the city from the west, according to the source.
Hezbollah-run Al-Manar and Syrian state media also reported advances on the city.
Al-Manar said the allied forces blocked the main road north of Zabadani to isolate the area from the Qalamoun towns of Serghaya and Ain Hawr.
They also captured a neighboring position identified as Qalaat al-Tal or Qalaat al-Koko, located west of Zabadani.