Syrian opposition takes control of new areas in south of country

Opposition forces on Monday seized control of new sites in the governorate of Daraa, south of Syria, as part of a plan to open a way to break the siege on western Ghouta areas, on the outskirts of Damascus.

The regime’s troops, meanwhile, controlled Al-Dakhakniya neighborhood on the capital’s outskirts.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in London, heavy clashes are raging between the Syrian troops and allied fighters on one hand and the Islamic Brigade and the Qaeda-linked Al-Nusra Front on the other in the vicinity of the Jadya village in Daraa.

The opposition fighters controlled the two posts of Al-A’laf and Al-Ruba’i near the town of Zamrin, which they had already seized. At least five opposition fighters were killed.

In the meantime, the regime’s fighter jets dropped barrel bombs on the towns of Ankhel and Salmin, both in Daraa, but no casualties have been reported.

In the northern governorate of Aleppo, heavy clashes have been taking place since Monday dawn between the opposition Islamist fighters and the regime’s forces supported by allies.