Retrieval of al-Qussair restrains activities of Syrian rebels

Retrieval of al-Qussair by Syrian troops Wednesday has great significance in restraining military activities of Syrian rebels, said a political expert, adding the rebels lost an important strategic location near the border with Lebanon. Turki Hasan, a political expert, made the remarks during an interview with Xinhua Wednesday after the Syrian army officially declared regaining of al-Qussair city from the rebels. "Al-Qussair is of a special importance in the war against our country for more than two years. Al-Qussair is a border city and thus it has become a center for luring, preparing and arming the terrorists who spread from the city to the provinces of Homs and Hama and to the suburbs of Damascus," Hasan said. He added that the army's sweeping victory deprived the rebels from their main supply line from Lebanon. The Syrian army pushed its way into al-Qussair city more than two weeks ago after taking control of its suburbs following 46 days of battling. The operation aimed at cutting the rebels' main supply line in the central region of the country. Opposition activists claimed that Hezbollah was fighting alongside the Syrian troops in al-Qussair as the group is known for being an important ally of Damascus. They charged that Hezbollah's participation had tweaked the balance in favor of the Syrian troops, calling on Hezbollah's leader, Hasan Nasrallah, to withdraw his fighters from Syria. At the same time, the rebels in al-Qussair have been buoyed by Salafi groups in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli. The Syrian government recently warned that it would be tough on armed groups moving between Syria and Lebanon.