Syrian planes renew air raids

Syrian warplanes renewed air raids on the embattled rebel stronghold of Yabrud on Wednesday, launching 10 strikes on the town near the border with Lebanon, an NGO said. "Warplanes carried out 10 raids on the outskirts of the town of Yabrud and the Rima area," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. It added that regime forces also shelled parts of Yabrud and troops backed by pro-regime militia and the Lebanese Hezbollah movement were engaged in fierce clashes with rebels including jihadists. The Syrian Revolution General Commission and Local Coordination Committee activist groups said the air raids involved the use of explosive-packed barrel bombs. Syrian forces are trying to capture Yabrud in a final push to secure the entire Qalamun region which lies next to the Lebanese border and on the strategic Damascus-Homs highway, according to AFP.