Syria rebels staged a surprise dawn attack on 10 March against the key district of Baba Amr in the central city of Homs, a year after regime forces retook it after a deadly month-long siege.
Activists said the assault aimed to ease pressure on other districts in Homs where the army launched an offensive several days ago to capture rebel enclaves. The new battle for Baba Amr began as fighters in the oil-producing east said they had established religious committees to administer the area’s policing, judiciary and emergency services. The violence also came as UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres warned that the number of Syrian refugees, which has already passed the million mark, could double or triple by the end of the year. “We announce the ‘great victory battle’ to liberate neighbourhoods (controlled by the army), namely Baba Amr, and ease the pressure on our comrades and on besieged Homs districts,” a rebel said in a video posted on the Internet.
Syria Rebels Stage Surprise Assault In Homs
Syria rebels staged a surprise dawn attack on 10 March against the key district of Baba Amr in the central city of Homs, a year after regime forces retook it after a deadly month-long siege.
