Syrian army launches operation to retake town

The Syrian army has launched an offensive in the strategic Qalamoun region to retake the town of Yabrud from al-Qaeda-linked militants.

Security sources say the army is advancing around the town and is expected to take control of it soon.

Yabrud has been under the control of militants since 2011.

It is the last major town in the Qalamoun region, which the army is fighting to retake.

The town is located near the Lebanese border and explosives used in bombings in Lebanon are reportedly smuggled into the country from there.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011. Over 130,000 people have reportedly been killed and millions displaced due to the unrest.

According to reports, the Western powers and their regional allies -- especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey -- are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.

On February 15, negotiations between the Syrian government and the foreign-backed opposition ended without finding a way to resolve the conflict.

The Syrian delegation said fighting terrorism should be the top priority while the so-called opposition insisted that the formation of a transitional government and resignation of President Bashar al-Assad must come first.

Damascus strongly rejects the demand, saying only the Syrian people can decide the issue.