BEIRUT: Syrian government troops are expected to storm the rebel stronghold of Yabroud near the Lebanese border within hours, a report in a pro-Assad newspaper said Sunday.

The report, published by Al-Watan daily, quoted sources from the town saying that the Syrian Army is now prepared to launch a military operation to regain control of Yabroud.

The paper quoted the sources as saying government troops were advancing quickly both on the outskirts and inside the Syrian town located in the Qalamoun region.

President Bashar Assad’s forces launched an offensive last month on the Qalamoun region to cut off rebel supply routes from Lebanon.

Yabroud has been under the control of rebels since early last year and has served as a major smuggling hub for opposition fighters.

It is also the town where a group of nuns seized last month by rebels groups in the historic Maaloula are said to be held.