Syrian army confronts offensive by Nusra Front in southern Daraa

Syrian army has confronted an attack unleashed by the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front and other terror-linked groups in southern province of Daraa, state news agency SANA reported on Monday.

The Syrian army and allied fighters fended off the attacks by the Nusra and allied militants on residential areas in Daraa, inflicting heavy losses on the attackers, said SANA, adding that the attacks were focused in the areas of Manshiyeh and Hamiedet al-Zaher as well as Busra square in Daraa.

Citing a military source, SANA said the military forces have contained situation.

It said the Nusra attack was coupled with shelling on government-controlled areas in Daraa, leaving many people killed or wounded as well as inflicting property losses.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 15 rebel fighters were killed during the battles against the Syrian forces in Daraa, where six government soldiers were killed in the same conflict.

The Nusra and allied militants unleashed their offensive on Sunday with the aim of capturing areas under the government control in Daraa, the birthplace of the Syrian conflict.

The situation in Daraa was calm ahead of the attack, amid reports that there was an understanding between Russia and Jordan, which supports the rebels in Daraa, for halting the attacks on government areas in exchange for a halt on rebel-held areas in that province. Endit