As Kobane battle intensifies, regime continues Daraa attack
As Kobane battle intensifies, regime continues Daraa attack
At least 50 IS militants reportedly killed in the northern Syrian town of Kobane, as regime attacks against FSA in Daraa leave at least 21 dead.
3 min read
Fighting has been ongoing in Daraa for many months [Anadolu]
Islamic State (IS, formerly known as ISIS) have suffered heavy losses as fighting in and around the Syrian town of Kobane, which lies close to the Turkish border intensifies.
At least 50 militants are reported to have been killed over the last 24 hours in the town, the London based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
With international attention trackin the fighting between IS and Kurdish YPG forces, as well as the US-led coalition strikes against the expansionist Islamist militant group, the Syrian regime has bombed opposition targets in the southern province of Daraa, leaving at least 21 civilians dead in one of the strikes.
Bashar al-Assad's forces have also advanced in the city of Sheikh Miskeen, in Daraa.
"Fighting continued in the eastern and northern quarters of Sheikh Miskeen, the regime forces advanced thanks to the large amount of cover they had," local activist Imad al-Hourani told al-Araby al-Jadeed.
The Syrian regime also struck IS' self-proclaimed capital of Raqqa, in eastern Syria, with the Britain-based Observatory reporting that 29 civilians were killed as a result of those strikes.
Southern front
The fighting between Assad forces and an amalgamation of Free Syrian Army (FSA) groups and the al-Qaeda affiliated al-Nusra Front in Daraa has taken the back seat to the fighting occuring in Kobane against IS in the international media, despite the important events taking place in the province, where the first Syrian protesters took to the streets in 2011.
Recently, a member of the opposition Syrian National Coalition (SNC), Nasr al-Hariri, spoke of the possibility of setting up a buffer zone in the region, which lies on the Jordanian border, in light of opposition advances there.
Activists say this may explain the recent regime strikes.
The deadliest strike hit Jassem, in southern Daraa. Of the 21 civilians reported dead, seven were women and two were children.
The heaviest fighting was reported in Sheikh Miskeen, the fourth biggest town in Daraa. The town is an important regional hub, and is strategically placed for both the regime and the opposition.
Hourani claimed that the Assad regime had pumped manpower into the battle in Sheikh Miskeen, including foreign fighters.
"[The regime] received reinforcements from Hezbollah and the Iranian Republican Guards... The battle has been ongoing in Sheikh Miskeen for around a month," Hourani said.
Moaz al-Khatib: 'I told Russia Assad should leave'
In an interview given to al-Araby al-Jadeed (Arabic), the former head of the SNC, Moaz al-Khatib, said that he told Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov that Bashar al-Assad should leave power.
Khatib surprised many by traveling to Moscow to meet Lavrov on November 7. Russia is one of the primary international supporters of Assad.
"I told the Russians that a part of the Syrian people wanted Bashar al-Assad... and another part do not want him... and that therefore it is impossible for Syria to stand on its own two feet with this man [in charge] and that he must leave," Khatib said.
"This departure does not mean that there are guarantees from any side, I cannot transgress against people's rights... the most important thing is to end this tragedy," Khatib added.
At least 50 militants are reported to have been killed over the last 24 hours in the town, the London based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
With international attention trackin the fighting between IS and Kurdish YPG forces, as well as the US-led coalition strikes against the expansionist Islamist militant group, the Syrian regime has bombed opposition targets in the southern province of Daraa, leaving at least 21 civilians dead in one of the strikes.
Bashar al-Assad's forces have also advanced in the city of Sheikh Miskeen, in Daraa.
"Fighting continued in the eastern and northern quarters of Sheikh Miskeen, the regime forces advanced thanks to the large amount of cover they had," local activist Imad al-Hourani told al-Araby al-Jadeed.
The Syrian regime also struck IS' self-proclaimed capital of Raqqa, in eastern Syria, with the Britain-based Observatory reporting that 29 civilians were killed as a result of those strikes.
Southern front
The fighting between Assad forces and an amalgamation of Free Syrian Army (FSA) groups and the al-Qaeda affiliated al-Nusra Front in Daraa has taken the back seat to the fighting occuring in Kobane against IS in the international media, despite the important events taking place in the province, where the first Syrian protesters took to the streets in 2011.
Recently, a member of the opposition Syrian National Coalition (SNC), Nasr al-Hariri, spoke of the possibility of setting up a buffer zone in the region, which lies on the Jordanian border, in light of opposition advances there.
Activists say this may explain the recent regime strikes.
 |
The battle has been ongoing in Sheikh Miskeen for around a month. - Imad al-Hourani, activist |
The deadliest strike hit Jassem, in southern Daraa. Of the 21 civilians reported dead, seven were women and two were children.
The heaviest fighting was reported in Sheikh Miskeen, the fourth biggest town in Daraa. The town is an important regional hub, and is strategically placed for both the regime and the opposition.
Hourani claimed that the Assad regime had pumped manpower into the battle in Sheikh Miskeen, including foreign fighters.
"[The regime] received reinforcements from Hezbollah and the Iranian Republican Guards... The battle has been ongoing in Sheikh Miskeen for around a month," Hourani said.
Moaz al-Khatib: 'I told Russia Assad should leave'
In an interview given to al-Araby al-Jadeed (Arabic), the former head of the SNC, Moaz al-Khatib, said that he told Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov that Bashar al-Assad should leave power.
|
It is impossible for Syria to stand on its own two feet with this man [Assad]. - Moaz al-Khatib, Syrian opposition |
Khatib surprised many by traveling to Moscow to meet Lavrov on November 7. Russia is one of the primary international supporters of Assad.
"I told the Russians that a part of the Syrian people wanted Bashar al-Assad... and another part do not want him... and that therefore it is impossible for Syria to stand on its own two feet with this man [in charge] and that he must leave," Khatib said.
"This departure does not mean that there are guarantees from any side, I cannot transgress against people's rights... the most important thing is to end this tragedy," Khatib added.
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