Syrian troops, Hezbollah fighters seize town near Damascus: monitorsMay 19, 2016 - 12:11 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Syrian government forces and allies including Lebanese Hezbollah fighters seized a strategic town southeast of Damascus from insurgents on Thursday, May 19, a monitoring group said, according to Reuters. After heavy fighting in an assault by the government side, rebels were being driven out of the town of Deir al-Asafir in the Syrian capital's Eastern Ghouta suburbs, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The town's capture closed off a pocket of insurgent control in Eastern Ghouta, and could pave the way for further government advances in the region that has long been held by a number of rebel groups, Observatory director Rami Abdulrahman said. Hezbollah fighters played a key role in the assault, he said, which took place near to where the group's top military commander in Syria was recently killed by what it said was rebel shellfire. Hundreds of families were fleeing the area because of the intensity of the fighting, the Observatory said, according to Reuters. Government forces and their allies have made some advances in Eastern Ghouta recently while insurgent groups in the area have fought among themselves. The capture of Deir al-Asafir was an advance that once again exploited the rebel infighting, Abdulrahman said. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Your home is in Armenia – Ameriabank offers mortgage loans for the Diaspora To buy real estate, Diasporans can apply to Ameriabank online to buy, renovate or build a home anywhere in Armenia. Armenia-Qatar ties discussed in Doha The Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council met with the Deputy Secretary General of the National Security Council of Qatar. ARARAT special evening dedicated to Aznavour's 100th Anniv. On May 20 ARARAT legendary Armenian brandy, celebrated the centennial of Maestro Charles Aznavour with a special event. Surveying works underway in Armenia’s Kirants Surveying works are underway in the Armenian village of Kirants in the northern Tavush province. |