BEIRUT: Syrian anti-government activists say rebels have captured a military base in southern Syria.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the opposition fighters took the air defense base on the outskirts of the city of Daraa yesterday after battling President Bashar Assad's troops in the area for several days. The takeover is the latest advance by the rebels near the strategic border area with Jordan.
The rebels launched an offensive in recent weeks to seize towns and military bases in the south, largely with the help of an influx of foreign-funded weapons. The opposition already controls large swathes of land in the north and parts of Syria's largest city, Aleppo.
Syrian jet fires missile at Lebanese town
Lebanon's official news agency says a Syrian jet has fired a missile that slammed into a house on the outskirts of a Lebanese border town.
The National News Agency says the attack hit the edge of the town of Arsal on the Lebanese side of the frontier yesterday. The report said there were no casualties, although the strike did cause material damage.
Lebanon has been on edge since the uprising against Bashar Assad began more than two years ago.
Lebanese gunmen supporting opposing sides of the Syrian conflict have frequently clashed in Lebanon, raising concerns that fighting could spread and reignite Lebanon's explosive sectarian mix.
Arsal has backed opposition fighters in Syria. Arms smuggling into Syria is widespread in the area.
