Hezbollah and Syrian rebel factions engaged in intense clashes in the Qalamoun city of Zabadani Tuesday, as the party inched closer to seizing control of the last rebel stronghold along Lebanon’s border.
The clashes Tuesday that pitted Hezbollah and its Syrian army allies against Syrian militants were the fiercest yet in the month-long battle for the city, located just 8 kilometers from Lebanon's eastern border, a security source told The Daily Star.
Hezbollah and the Syrian army have been advancing in recent days in Zabadani’s southwestern region after gaining control of large parts of the city and trapping rebels in the center.
According to SANA, Syria’s state-run National News Agency, allied forces Tuesday captured several positions in an area identified as Villat Abu Aisha.
Iran's Arabic-language state TV Al-Alam said that the Syrian army and Hezbollah also targeted militant positions in Al-Mahatta neighborhood, forcing the gunmen to withdraw from the area.
The push comes two days after the allied forces wrested control of the Hay al-Hikmah neighborhood, which overlooks Al-Mahatta.
Hezbollah has lost at least 25 fighters since the military campaign to oust rebels from Zabadani was launched last month, according to security sources.
