Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — The Syrian opposition has reported the rebel capture of a
major Sunni city.

Opposition sources said the rebel Free Syrian Army has captured most of
the central Syrian city of Homs. They said FSA was withstanding heavy
missile and artillery shelling by the Syrian Army and security forces.

“The rebels have shown they could repel even massive attacks by Assad forces,” an opposition source said.

Homs has been regarded as the leading stronghold of the Sunni revolt. Over the last six months, the Syrian Army has staged several major operations to dislodge the rebel presence from the city of about 60,000.

“If we only had air support, we would be in a completely different position,” FSA commander Col. Riad Assad said.

FSA has reported rebel control over most of the provinces of Homs and Idlib. The sources said the Syrian Army occasionally drives out rebel forces, but they return once the military withdraws.

The sources said FSA, based in Turkey and backed by Islamist fighters, has succeeded in operating in several areas of Syria. They cited the capture
of areas near the Syrian border with Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey as well as
heavy fighting with Assad troops on the outskirts of Damascus.

“We are in control of areas in every region in Syria,” FSA spokesman
Col. Amr Wawi said. “The regime is becoming weaker as we gain strength.”

Wawi, also regarded as the deputy FSA commander, said rebel units
reached the edge of the presidential palace in Damascus but did not attack
it out of
concern for civilian casualties. He said FSA would return to the area soon.

“But we will intensify operations in the near future and capture the
palace,” Wawi said.

Wawi asserted that Assad forces were losing their will to fight and were
given massive support by Iran and its Hizbullah proxy. The deputy commander
warned that any post-Assad regime would avenge Hizbullah attacks on
civilians.

“We call on [Hizbullah secretary-general Hassan] Nasrallah to stop the
killing of the Syrian people who embraced the Lebanese during the 2006 war
[against Israel],” Wawi said.

  Bashar Assad, claim government counteroffensive repelled, Col. Amr Wawi, Col. Riad Assad, Damascus, Free Syrian Army, Hassan Nasrallah, Homs, Syrian rebels capture Homs