Rebels Capture 32 Syrian Regime Soldiers, Militiamen

CAIRO – At least 32 soldiers and militiamen allied with the Syrian regime were captured by rebels in the northern province of Aleppo, where heavy fighting between loyalists and insurgents continued into Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

The militiamen include individuals from Arab and Asian countries, who were taken prisoner on Wednesday in the Ratiyan farms to the north of Aleppo, SOHR said in a statement.

Six regime soldiers and militiamen were killed by the insurgents while attempting to flee north of Aleppo, the rights group noted.

The Observatory also reported that heavy fighting continued near the villages of Bashkewi and Hardanin, where casualties have been reported on both sides.

In the northern province of Idleb, warplanes of the international coalition raided Dar al Istishfa and positions held by the Al Nusra Front – Al Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate – in the area around Ras al-Hesn, on the Syrian-Turkish border.

Syrian armed forces, which are supported by the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah, Palestinian Al Quds Brigades, and Iranian Shiite guerrillas started an offensive in Aleppo on Tuesday.

The official Syrian news agency, Sana, said on Wednesday that the military had regained control of parts of the Jamiat al Zahra district and areas of Deir al Zaitun, Kafr Tuna, Bashkewi and Hardanin.

 

 

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