Syrian troops capture new areas near Israeli Golan
Syrian government forces have captured new areas south of the capital Damascus near the Israeli Golan Heights, increasing pressure on insurgents.
The government-controlled Syrian Central Military Media reported that Syrian troops and their allies captured Monday three new areas from al-Qaida-linked Levant Liberation Committee. It added troops are now about 500 meters (yards) from the shrine of Sheikh Abdullah that is sacred to the country’s Druze community.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Right said the fighters are now besieged in the village of Beit Jin and nearby areas after a 10-day intense offensive. It added that negotiations are underway to evacuate insurgents to the rebel-held northwestern province of Idlib.
Israel has been concerned about the push by Syrian troops and their Iran-backed allies close to its border.
