Damascus - Georges Chahine
Syrian man mourns brother's death, next to his body
Dozens of people have been killed in battles between Syrian troops and rebels on Thursday. War planes were bombing rebel belts in the central city of Homs.
In the central province of Homs, the town of Qusayr and rebel districts in the city of Homs came
under attack by the army on Thursday.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 69 people including 15 civilians, 21 soldiers and 33 rebels were killed in clashes on Wednesday in thenorthern province of Idlib.
"Regime forces used war planes to bomb the Khaldiyeh district, which they have been trying to break into for the past several days. There are now clashes near the neighbourhood," the Observatory said.
It added that at least four soldiers’ troops had died in the fighting, while the rebels had also suffered casualties in their ranks.
Mortar fire rained down from early morning on the nearby town of Qusayr, close to the Lebanon border, according to the Local Coordination Committees, a network of activists on the ground.
The army has intensified operations against Homs and Qusayr, which have been besieged by regime forces for months, vowing to overrun them by the end of the week to free up troops for battle zones in the north.
Around 43 deaths on Tuesday in several parts of Syria, including 28 in Reef Dimashq, six in Idlib, five in Homs, two in Damascus, one in Deraa and another one in Hama.
According to Champress, a number of citizens on Tuesday got injured in an explosion of a roadside bomb planted by a terrorist group in al-Zablatani area in Damascus, followed by heavy shooting and intensive tank shelling on al-Qadam and Alasali neighbourhoods with violent clashed between the FSA and the government forces.
Damascus countryside, military aviation used (MEG) bombed the towns of Deir al-Asafir, heteyta al-Hersh in addition to other towns and cities in eastern Ghouta.
Moreover, artillery shelling was renewed on the Douma, al-Zabadani cities and Artouz town while the government army stormed Zakya village.
Bombardment with heavy artillery and helicopters was also renewed on the surrounded neighbourhoods of Homs, in addition to throwing explosive barrels.
In Homs country side as well the heavy artillery was renewed on Rastan and Qalaat el Hosn cities, and on the towns of Zafarana, Dier Fol and al-Ghanto.
The Syrian army stormed al-Amireya and al-Hamidiya neighbourhoods and Aleppo road in Hama with heavy machinery and gunfire as well as raiding houses and shops and some arrests.
In Aleppo, clashes broke between the FSA and the government forces in al-Arqoub and Sakhur neighbourhoods.
Military air forces shelled the neighbourhoods of Bab al-Hadid, Aqyul and al-Mayser, while in Aleppo country side cities were bombarded including Marea, Adnan, Manbij, Dier Hafer, and Hayyan.
In Deraa countryside the plains betweem Saidon and al-Naema were shelled at the same time where houses were stormed, robbed and many houses were burned by the government army in north Karak.
Military aviation shelled Sklkh village and the cities of Hebeit and Saraqeb in Idlib countryside. Violent clashes erupted between the FSA and the government army in Maart al-Noman in a military aviation shelling, while in Dier al- Zour the market was shelled in the town centre and the military aviation shelled Jubaila neighbourhood.
In Dier al- Zour countryside, military aircrafts shelled Mouhasan and al-Boukamal cities, and Jadid Akeidat, also in Ar-Raqqah countryside Hammam al-Turkman was shelled.
Free Syrian Army managed to control the city of Maart al-Noman in Idlib, and Badama town on the borders with Turkey, according to activists, after a year and four months of continuous battles, while violence continued in several Syrian cities which lead to the death of 106 persons.
Free Syrian Army also extended control over Badama in Idlib countryside, after being under the control of the Syrian forces. The planted mines in the small town are still a source of danger for the fighters who believe the town is a safe gate to smuggle weapons.