Middle East

Apr. 08, 2014 | 05:08 PM

Syria army starts battle for Rankus in Qalamoun: activists

A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows the streets of the town of Yabrud, in the Qalamun region near the Lebanese border, being cleaned from debris as residents begin to return home on March 31, 2014. AFP PHOTO/HO/SANA

Agence France Presse

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Summary

Syrian regime forces have shelled the Rankus area ahead of an operation to retake the town, one of the last rebel-held regions in the Qalamoun area, activists said Tuesday.

"The area of Rankus in Qalamoun has been under heavy shelling and continuous air raids since Monday, ahead of a plan to storm it," Syrian Observatory for Human Rights chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.

He said Hezbollah was leading the operation by regime forces in the region, where the army has gradually recaptured control of almost all areas formerly held by the rebels.