Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — The Syrian Army has launched a major offensive against U.S.-backed rebels in the south.

Opposition sources said the Syrian Army has joined Hizbullah and other Iranian-backed forces for attacks on rebel strongholds in the southern provinces of Dera and Quneitra. They said the regime of President Bashar Assad achieved significant gains over the last two days.

“It is a very big operation,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

In a statement on Feb. 10, Syrian Observatory said the Assad offensive was meant to drive rebels from Dera city to Quneitra, near the Israeli frontier. The opposition group said Hizbullah was playing a major role in the operation.

The Syrian Army offensive followed a rebel drive to expel regime strongholds along the southern border with Jordan. A key rebel target, now under army attack, was Sheik Miskin, located near the highway to Damascus. Sheik Miskin has been deemed a waystation for U.S.-trained rebels and supplies from Jordan.

So far, several rebel-held towns have been captured by the Syrian Army. They were identified as Dir Al Adas, Dir Makr and Denaji, the latter which borders the Quneitra province.

“Clashes taking place in Dir Al Adas between regime forces backed by Hizbullah and Iranian fighters against Islamic battalions,” Syrian Observatory said.

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