Syria army pushes back rebels near regime heartland: monitor

BEIRUT: Nearly 40 government and opposition fighters have been killed as Syrian regime forces pushed rebels back from an area bordering President Bashar al-Assad´s heartland, a monitor said Saturday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 20 regime forces and 19 rebels from the Army of Conquest alliance had been killed in 24 hours of clashes in Hama province´s Sahl al-Ghab region.

The area borders Latakia province, a bastion of support for Assad and home to his ancestral village.

Earlier this week, the rebel alliance, which includes Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front, began a major offensive in the area, taking around 17 strategic hilltops and other positions, including a power plant.

The Britain-based Observatory said Saturday that regime forces had retaken around seven of those positions, including the power plant.