Syria Today: The Back-and-Forth Fight Around Damascus

See also Syria Analysis: How The Media is Expanding the Simplistic Narrative of "Al Qa'eda"
Syria Feature: Rights Activists On Trial Today in Damascus
Saturday's Syria Today: The Fight Over the International "Peace" Conference

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Regime Forces Claiming Otaiba Last MonthSaturday offered yet another caution against sweeping declarations that the Syrian conflict is nearing a resolution, in this case victory for the regime.

In the pendulum swing from last year's narrative was that the insurgents were on an inexorable march to success, so this month's --- including in outlets like The Washington Post --- has been that President Assad's military were on the point of defeating the insurgency.

Yesterday, however, the assurance that regime troops had broken the months-long hold of insurgents on a ring of Damascus suburbs ran into trouble. A coalition of opposition brigades --- including elements of the Free Syrian Army and the Islamist factions Jabhat al-Nusra, Liwaa al-Islam, and Liwaa Martyrs of Douma--- reclaimed Otaiba.

Otaiba is only two miles from Damascus International Airport and has been one of the points for the flow of foreign-supplied arms from Jordan to the insurgency. Last month, it was taken by the regime after sustained shelling and attacks.

On Saturday, insurgent commanders celebrated the victory by proclaiming that --- in contrast to the disarray that "lost" Otaiba to the Syrian military --- their new "unity" would bring a renewed offensive against President Assad's forces. One declared, "This is like a rehearsal for a wider cooperation across the country. If this is successful then all of us will consider forming a national army."

That, like other sweeping predictions, should be treated with caution. However, this weekend's developments have offered a valuable conclusion: neither side is likely to be enjoying "final" victory in a battle for Damascus for quite some time.

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Assad Forces "Storm" Insurgent-Held Qusayr, Homs

Amid reports that the Syrian military took the town of Qusayr near the Lebanon border after weeks of attacks, a "source close to" Hezbollah has said that at least four members of the Lebanese group were killed in the overnight assault.

More footage of the town:

Assad Forces "Storm" Insurgent-Held Qusair, Homs

Video Showing Bombardment Of Qusair

Syria's state media has claimed that government forces have stormed a strategic insurgent stronghold --- Qusair, in Homs province near the Lebanese border.

Syrian state television reported that 70 "terrorists" had been killed, according to the BBC.

Syrian state news agency SANA reported that the "valiant" Syrian army had carried out a "operations against terrorist groups" that resulted in the capture of Qusair city center.

Qusair, which has been under siege for several weeks --- allegedly by Hezbollah fighters as well as Assad forces --- was a significant capture for the insurgents. If it is recaptured by Assad, it will mean a strategic gain for pro-government forces, because it connects Damascus to the coast.

Al Jazeera reported comments from the Syrian Revolution General Commission:

The Syrian Revolution General Commission, a network of activists on the ground, also reported an intense bombardment of Qusayr, which the Syrian regime has been trying to recapture.

"A rain of shells on the city, at the same time as artillery fire and mortar fire from dawn. Homes were destroyed and burnt down," the group said.

The number of civilian casualties is likely high, according to Al Jazeera.

A number of videos purporting to show footage of the bombardment have been published on YouTube. The video below, by the pro-Assad SyriaTruthNetwork, claims that 40 "terrorists" have been killed.

Al Jazeera posted this video of the bombardment.

Casualties

The Local Coordination Committees claimed 116 people were killed on Saturday, including 37 martyrs in Damascus and its suburbs, 29 martyrs in Aleppo Province, and 27 in Homs Province.

The Violations Documentation Center reports that 60,767 people have been killed in the Syrian conflict since March 2011, an increase of 80 from Saturday.

Of the deaths, 47,463 were civilians, a rise of 35 from yesterday.