Advancing army kills jihadist emir in Syria's Latakia: Activists

[Bosonic]

Source: The Daily Star [Lebanon]

BEIRUT: Fierce fighting raged in Latakia province on Syria's coastline on Sunday, as the army pushed an advance and killed a jihadist leader, activists said.

The regime deployed massive reinforcements to fight rebels in Latakia, which has strategic and symbolic significance because it is the ancestral home of President Bashar al-Assad's clan.

Rebels positioned in remote enclaves of Latakia's mountains launched the "battle for the liberation of the Syrian coast" about two weeks ago.

Poorly equipped local fighters allied themselves with the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), despite a history of poor relations.

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2013/Aug-18/227736-advancing-army-kills-jihadist-emir-in-syrias-latakia-activists.ashx

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[Comrade Grumpy]

1. Tough luck, emir. Should have stayed home in Libya.

[John2]

2. What did I say

just a couple of days ago. Those villages were mostly Alawite. They cleared the area and let the rebels, ( AKA, Al Nusra, Taliban and foreigners) gather in one spot, so they could level them with massive fire power, from the Army, Air Fore and Navy. Looks like it worked. These are the same villages the rebels were bragging about taking last week. It was just a ploy to get them out in one area. The Syrian Army is a professional Army with Generals and officers, that think. Every good Army has that. The rebels are a disorganized bunch of gangs.

[Sand Wind]

3. The picture : Assad bombarding Latakia region's...

Smoke rises after what activists said was shelling by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in the village of Dourit, in Latakia countryside August 17, 2013. REUTERS/Khattab Abdulaa

[David__77]

4. Hopefully the army restores security to the region soon.

The al Qaeda terrorists are engaging in sectarian murder.

[Devil Child]

5. I wish them the best

It will be a long and tough fight but hopefully the army will prevail.

[quadrature]

6. good news if true ...nt

[maxsolomon]

7. When did DU become pro-Assad?

Next thing you know, we'll hear how the Hijab and the Burkha are tools of feminist power. Oh wait... too late.