Syrian army advances in Qussair city amid rebels' strong resistance

Source : Xinhua

DAMASCUS, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army continued on Wednesday its wide-scale operation in the central strategic city of al-Qussair amid a strong resistance from the rebels.

The governmental troops have restored security and stability to Al-Akari and Tal Sar villages and hunted down rebels in the town of al-Hamidieh on the outskirts of al-Qussair, state-run SANA news agency said Wednesday.

The army pushed its way into al-Qussair city early Sunday after taking control of its surburb after 46 days of battling.

On Monday, the state media in Syria said the army was still advancing in the strategic city and took full control of its eastern part.

In the meantime, the head of the exiled opposition urged the rebels to support the city before it fell into the hands of the governmental troops.

George Sabra, the interim head of the oppositional National Coalition, called on all rebel factions to 'rescue al-Qussair".

Sabra also called on the United Nations to hold an "emergency meeting" on the situation in al- Qussair.

The rebels in al-Qussair have been buoyed by Salafi groups in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli and Ersal. The Syrian government has recently warned that it will not waver in responding to the armed groups which are moving between Syria and Lebanon.

Over the past days, clashes between supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Sunni Muslim fighters raged in Lebanon's Tripoli on the heels of the Syrian troops operation in al- Qussair, causing casualties.