Al Qaeda affiliate said to be on last legs in Syria
Syrian media say government forces are advancing against the last territory of militants tied to al Qaeda, along the Syria-Lebanon border, but reports elsewhere in the country suggest yet another ceasefire seems to have been broken. Scarlett Cvitanovich reports.
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An offensive to drive jihadist insurgents tied to al Qaeda out from their final foothold at the Syrian-Lebanese border. This aerial footage from Lebanese Hezbollah fighters said to show them advancing alongside Syria's military against the insurgents, once known as Nusra Front. Lebanon's locked down its border in the area, the Syrian forces apparently attempting to squeeze the militants against it. The operation began on Friday (July 21). On Saturday (July 22), Hezbollah released this footage of its forces capturing a strategic hilltop. Any chances of negotiation appear dashed. Lebanese media reporting a mediator was killed in rocket fire by the jihadists. Hezbollah, which is also backed by Iran's government, is a key supporter of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in the country's civil war. A position it's been criticized for from Lebanese political opponents. For Syria, it's one of many active battle fronts. This footage is believed to be of government warplanes striking east of Damascus, despite declaring a ceasefire the day before. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported six towns were hit in rebel-held Eastern Ghouta. The area isn't included in a de-escalation agreement brokered between the U.S., Russia and Jordan earlier this month. That agreement has reportedly seen a reduction in violence in southwestern Syria.