TODAY’S MESOP SYRIA INSIGHT – Rebels push for Daraa military base

24-4-2014 – Opposition sources claimed Thursday morning that rebel groups had gained partial control over the Tel al-Jabia military base in western Daraa province, with Sham News Network correspondent Omar al-Hariri reporting on Facebook that rebels had destroyed a regime tank and other heavy weaponry.

The news comes as rebel groups including Jabhat a-Nusra, the Islamic Front and Free Syrian Army factions announced the start of a campaign to capture Tel al-Jabia, which serves as a base for the government’s 61^st Brigade and 74^th Infantry Brigade. SANA reported that the Syrian army had mounted operations targeting “terrorist groups” in several towns in northern Daraa. Tel al-Jabia is located adjacent to the Daraa town of Nawa, less than 100 km southwest of the Syrian capital and 15 km east of Quneitra province, where rebels have been on the offensive for much of the past month.