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Syrian army fully captures strategic city in southern region

Xinhua, January 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Syrian army took full control over a strategic city in the southern province of Daraa, as part of the wide-scale offensive the government forces backed by allied troops have recently been achieving on several fronts.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Tuesday that the military forces backed by Iranian officers and fighters of the Lebanese Hezbollah Shiite group as well as Russian air cover succeeded to take full control of the key city of Sheikh Miskeen in the countryside of Daraa, following the larges-scale offensive unleashed by the Syrian forces on Dec. 28 of last year.

The battles are now focused in the vicinity of the city between the Syrian army and an array of jihadist groups, mainly the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, added the Observatory.

Amid the ongoing intense battles, many militants started withdrawing toward nearby rebel-held towns, mainly Ibta' and Nawa, a military source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The 15th Brigade of the 5th Armored Division of the Syrian army backed by the National Defense Forces (NDF), a pro-government paramilitary force, as well as the 7th Mechanized Division were leading the offensive against Sheikh Miskeen.

What made things worse for the rebels in the city is the battles between the rival groups of Al-Muthanna Movement and the Al-Yarmouk Army rebels, which are fighting along the main road to Sheikh Miskeen, which has hindered supplies from reaching other militants fighting inside the city against the Syrian army.

The contested city, which has seen previous battles between the rebels and the Syrian army, constitutes a supply line for the rebels who are operating in Daraa, the birthplace of Syria's nearly five-year old conflict.

Being a hub between rebel-held towns in Daraa, controlling the city will enable the Syrian army to separate rebel-held towns in Daraa's northern countryside, and will secure main road connecting the southern provinces of Daraa, Swaida and Qunaitera.

Capturing the city will also secure the international road connecting the capital Damascuswith Daraa. The road is the main supply line for the Syrian troops in Daraa.

In December of last year, the Syrian army captured parts of the city before unleashing an offensive for its full recapture this week. Endit