Syrian army, Hezbollah advance in city near Lebanese border
BEIRUT - The Syrian army backed by Lebanese ally Hezbollah has advanced deeper into the besieged Syrian city of Zabadani two weeks into a campaign to capture it from insurgents, rebels and the army said.
Hezbollah militiamen and the army, aided by reinforcements, advanced closer to Zabadani's centre under cover of heavy artillery fire and intense aerial bombardments of insurgent hideouts, rebels and the army said.
Footage released by the Syrian army showed troops in the heart of the southeastern district of Sultani, the focus of street fighting. Rebels said some 500 families were still inside Zabadani and had taken shelter but the city was mostly deserted.
