Syrian army launches major offensive in Daraa province
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E-mail Xinhua, February 23, 2017
As many as 35 Syrian airstrikes targeted rebel positions in southern province of Daraa on Thursday, as part of a major offensive between Syrian forces and the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, a monitor group reported.
The airstrikes were coupled with intense battles between the army forces and the Nusra Front, which recently changed its name to the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, or the Front for Conquering the Levant, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The UK-based watchdog group said the Syrian forces fired surface-to-surface rockets and dropped barrel bombs during the battles.
The Nusra Front last week unleashed a wide-scale offensive on government-controlled areas in Daraa, a bordering province with Jordan, aiming to capture Manshiyeh and Hamiedet al-Zaher as well as Busra square in Daraa.
The situation in Daraa was calm ahead of the attack, amid reports that there was an understanding between Russia and Jordan for halting the attacks on government areas in exchange for a halt on rebel-held areas in that province.
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