NAN-F-26
Rebels
Beirut, Feb. 21, 2017 (dpa/NAN) Moderate Syrian rebels launched a counter-attack on Islamic State-linked militants after a series of Islamic State advances in South-Western Syria, near Golan Heights, a monitoring group said on Tuesday.
“Fighting is continuing between the rebels and the jihadist Khalid bin al-Walid Army at the western outskirts of the Syrian province of Daraa,’’ Britain-based Syrian Obsevatroy for Human Rights said.
Rami Rahman, head of the Observatory, said the rebels’ counter-attack at dawn managed to drive out the jihadists from at least two villages, Jileen and parts of Heet.
“The “Khalid bin al-Walid Army managed in their surprise attack on Monday to control a hill called Tel al-Jamoua.
“The hill is strategic because it overlooks Nawa, the largest village in the western countryside of Daraa province,” Rahman said
He said the Islamic State-linked group managed to expand their control in the Daraa countryside, adding that the jihadists also overran the towns of Tseel, Sahem al-Golan and Adwan.
The battles left nine fighters from the Khalid bin al-Walid Army dead.
The monitoring group said that 18 rebels died, adding that some of them were executed by the jihadists.
The Khalid bin al-Walid Army, which includes radical factions, was set up in May and has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
It currently controls territories south-east of the Golan Heights.
Israel seized 1,200 square km of the Golan Heights from Syria in the Six-Day War of 1967.
(dpa/NAN)
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Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Abdullahi Yusuf