Syrian helicopters drop barrel bombs on Deraa

BEIRUT, June 25 (Reuters): Government helicopters dropped barrel bombs on the city of Deraa on Monday for the first time in nearly a year, a rebel and a war monitor said, extending an assault in southwest Syria.

Along with the barrel bombs - containers stuffed with explosives - the helicopters dropped leaflets saying the army was coming and urging people to "kick out the terrorists as your brothers did in eastern Ghouta", the sources said.

The region is politically sensitive because of its location near Israel and Jordan and the existence there of a "de-escalation" deal agreed between the US, Jordan and Syrian government ally Russia.

Washington has warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian allies that violations of the deal would prompt a response, but rebels said it had also told them not to expect any American military support.

In Moscow, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov was quoted by RIA news agency as saying Russian officials hope to discuss southwest Syria with US National Security Adviser John Bolton soon, and separately with Jordan.