Syrian army preempts rebel attacks in Latakia

BEIRUT: Syria’s army launched an offensive on Friday against rebel groups in a bid to strengthen its control in the northwest Latakia province, a bastion of the regime, a monitor said.
After a series of losses in neighbouring Idlib province, the army is fortifying its positions to preempt potential rebel attacks on Latakia, home to the small Alawite religious community from which President Bashar al-Assad hails.
Regime forces attacked rebel positions overnight from Thursday until Friday in the northeast of Latakia province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
“Seven opposition fighters and 10 pro-government forces were killed,” the Britain-based monitoring group said.
Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said that “the battles are taking place around the Nabi Yunes hilltop, a strategic position 1,500 metres above sea level, on the edge of Idlib and Hama provinces.”
The regime controls the hilltop itself, but opposition groups have taken over the foot of the hill to the west and northwest.