Syrian forces liberate Quneitra village near occupied Golan

A Syrian village in the strategic southwestern Quneitra Province, which borders Jordan, Lebanon and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, has returned to government control, as reported by a UK-based monitoring group.

The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported Sunday the recapture of Masharah, which lies about 11 kilometers from the occupied Golan.

"Around 800 missiles and shells have been fired against several areas in the province and fierce fighting continues on the ground," SOHR head Rami Abdel Rahman said.

The monitoring group further reported the shelling of terrorist targets in the town of al-Haara in Quneitra's neighboring Dara'a Province.

Since June 19, the Syrian army has been conducting a major counter-terrorism operation in Dara'a, which also borders Jordan and the Golan Heights.

On July 12, Syria's al-Watan newspaper said that the army had deployed reinforcements to Quneitra to launch a “broad military operation” and wrest control of the province.

The full liberation of both Dara'a and Quneitra by Syrian government forces would cut the much-reported collaboration between Israel and anti-Damascus militants operating in the two regions.

SS