Rebels are making slow advances in the ongoing battles for Sheikh Miskeen, southern Daraa province, a senior commander told Zaman al-Wasl Tuesday.
Fauzi al-Nassar, commander of al-Sanamayn Martyrs Brigade, said rebels have achieved progress in the surrounding district of Sheikh Miskeen that was captured by the regime army a week ago.
Regime army forces backed by fighters from Lebanon's Hezbollah launched a major offensive two weeks ago, seeking to control the town and its powerful air base, Brigade 82.
Rebel groups, including Al-Qaeda’s Nusra Front, had been in control of Sheikh Miskeen and Brigade 82 since last year.
Regime warplanes conduced 12 raids on the town on Monday, activists said.
Most of Daraa province is controlled by opposition forces, although the government holds parts of the provincial capital and a few villages in the northwest of the province.
Daraa is often dubbed the "cradle" of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad that began with protests in March 2011.
This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
