Syrian army and Hezbollah consolidate areas on border
BEIRUT - The Syrian army, backed by Hezbollah fighters, has made advances in mountainous areas along Syria's border with Lebanon, a Hezbollah official said on Friday.
The push in the Qalamoun mountain range appeared to be preparation for a wider offensive in the border region previously announced by Hezbollah, the staunch Lebanese ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Syrian state media said dozens of insurgents had been killed.
On Friday, a Hezbollah source said the army and Hezbollah were in control of around 100 sq km (40 sq miles) of the Qalamoun mountains by late on Thursday after advances in the strategic areas of Assal al-Ward and Qarna Heights.
The British-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said fighting had continued into Friday.
