Assad begins attacks to retake rebel-held areas in Homs

By Selen Temizer, Mohamad Misto Levent Tok

HOMS, Syria

The Syrian regime has launched fresh military operations in opposition-held parts of the northern Homs province.

According to information gathered by Anadolu Agency correspondents in Syria, regime forces have launched fresh assaults since Monday against rebel-held areas of northern Homs.

Syria’s armed opposition retook some strategic positions that were previously captured by the Bashar al-Assad regime.

Under Russian mediation, a short-term ceasefire was announced that will expire on April 22.

Roughly 250,000 people living in a 592-square-kilometer area have remained under a blockade by the Syrian regime for five years.

Meanwhile, the regime also intensified attacks in the Yarmouk Camp, which is controlled by Daesh.

The regime recently managed to seize the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta -- one of the opposition’s last strongholds on the capital’s outskirts -- following sustained attacks and a five-year blockade.

Humanitarian access to the area, which is home to 400,000 people, had been completely cut off.

Over the past eight months, regime forces had intensified their siege, making it nearly impossible for food or medicine to get into the district and leaving thousands of civilians in need of assistance.