By Firas Makdesi MAALOULA, Syria (Reuters) - Syrian soldiers backed by Hezbollah fighters recaptured the town of Maaloula, **rth of Damascus, on Monday, military sources and state television said, further squeezing rebels' supply routes through the Qalamoun mountains into Leba**n. Islamist fighters, some from the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, had taken over part of the ancient Christian town in December and held several nuns captive until releasing them in March in a prisoner exchange deal. Government forces have recaptured several rebel-held areas and border towns in recent months, closing off supply routes from Leba**n and securing the main highway leading **rth from Damascus towards central Syria, Homs and the Mediterranean.
04-15-2014, 01:18 AM
Syrian army seizes ancient Christian town near Lebanese border
By Firas Makdesi MAALOULA, Syria (Reuters) - Syrian soldiers backed by Hezbollah fighters recaptured the town of Maaloula, **rth of Damascus, on Monday, military sources and state television said, further squeezing rebels' supply routes through the Qalamoun mountains into Leba**n. Islamist fighters, some from the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, had taken over part of the ancient Christian town in December and held several nuns captive until releasing them in March in a prisoner exchange deal. Government forces have recaptured several rebel-held areas and border towns in recent months, closing off supply routes from Leba**n and securing the main highway leading **rth from Damascus towards central Syria, Homs and the Mediterranean.
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