Syrian army steps up operations near capital

Syrian army has stepped up its operations in the strategic town of Yabroud, north of Damascus, as the militants try to hold their grip over the area, as their last base for a possible attack against the capital. The mixed Muslim and Christian town of Yabroud lies on the strategic highway linking Damascus to Homs, Syria’s third largest city, and is close to the Lebanese border and militants’ supply lines.
On Sunday the army said it was in full control of the Sahel village, which was an important base for the militants near Yabroud.
The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights a Britain-based group which relies over sources within the militants said on Tuesday that army helicopters launched a major operation in militant bases near Yabroud.
Another strategic improvement was also made in Sunday battles, Al-Alam reporter in Syria said; with the army taking al-Kuwaiti strategic hill under full control. The hill overlooks Yabroud and is considered to be and important base for overlooking the movements in the area.
Yabroud is the last base for militants in the Qalamoun area, in Rif Dimashq governorate.
The militants occupying the town are from the so-called Free Syrian Army, al-Qaeda’s al-Nusra Front, Islamic Front and a few from the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant.
Syria sank into war in March 2011 when pro-reform protests turned into a massive insurgency following the intervention of Western and regional states.
The unrest, which took in terrorist groups from across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, has transpired as one of the bloodiest conflicts in recent history.