Baalbek Man Held Captive in Syria's Qalamoun
A resident to the Bekaa city of Baalbek was held captive in Syria's Qalamoun region, the state-run National News Agency reported on Thursday.
The family of Samir Hlayhel received a phone call from a Syrian number informing them that their son has been taken to the town of Yabrud in Qalamoun.
The phone call came three days after the family had lost contact with Hlayhel as he was transporting quantities of flour to the Syrian region.
Fierce battles have been taking place in the surrounding of Yabrud in northern Syria with the participation of Hizbullah fighters.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said rebels were fighting on Yabrud's outskirts against government troops, backed by National Defense Forces militia and Hizbullah fighters.
The rebel side included Islamist brigades and Al-Nusra Front, an al-Qaida affiliate, the Britain-based Observatory said.
"There have been many losses on both sides, but there are not exact figures yet," the Observatory said, adding that a citizen journalist with the rebels was among those killed.
A source close to Hizbullah said the government would seize Yabrud soon.
"Yabrud will be take by the Syrian army very soon, by force or through negotiations. Then the mountain leading to the village of (Lebanon's) Arsal will be taken."
Syria's Al-Watan newspaper said the "army is advancing around the town and is ready to take control," with a security source telling Agence France Presse the plan was to advance incrementally on all sides of the town "until it is taken completely."
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