Damascus – George Al Shami
Fighters from the al-Ezz bin Abdul Salam Brigade train in Latakia, April 24 2013
Damascus – George Al Shami
Opposition fighters in Syria took control over several military points on the border with Jordan ?on Tuesday evening, while governmental forces shelled areas in the outskirts of Homs, ?Latakia and Deraa.
Meanwhile, battles continued between pro- and anti-government forces around the key coastal town of Latakia and in the eastern city of Deir al-Zour.
Activists said opposition fighters overpowered the Hajana government army battalion at the Najib border crossing with Jordan on Tuesday evening - the last point on the border with Jordan controlled by governmental forces.
In Homs, activists said governmental forces launched air strikes on Telbiseh, Farhaniya and Talbiseh in the outskirts, with the opposition Shaam News Network reporting damage to agricultural land.?
Also in the outskirts of Homs, regime forces renewed their shelling of ?Rastan, Houla and al-Dar al-Kabira.
In the southern province of Deraa, the government air force raided the city of Nawa.
Various neighbourhoods in the eastern city of Deir al-Zour saw renewed shelling by the regime army, with the opposition SADA media centre reporting that clashes were ongoing ?between armed governmental forces and rebels in the al-Howaiqa neighbourhood, for the fourth consecutive day.
The Free Syrian Army (FSA) shelled government forces in several areas, using heavy artillery against security forces and pro-government militias stationed in one of the city’s hospitals, as it continued to ?attack Deir al-Zour airport, days after seizing control over official buildings in the city, including the Baath party headquarters.?
Activists said the FSA fired artillery rounds at Mumayezun School in ?Deir al-Zour, where numerous members of the regime army were sheltering.
In the Assad family homeland of Latakia, the regime army launched air raids on villages in Jabal al-Akrad (Kurdish mountain), and clashes continued as government forces attempted to ?regain control over some of the villages seized by the opposition.?
In Aleppo, clashes erupted between opposition fighters and governmental forces in the Bustan ?Pasha neighbourhood, and the FSA attacked governmental forces at the Muhallab and al-Difaa al-Madani barracks.
Opposition fighters in Hama targeted a military convoy on Harir Road, leaving a several government soldiers dead, according to activists.?
In the northern city of Raqa, dozens were killed and injured in a car bomb at a train station being used as a base by the rebel Ahfad al-Rasul brigade, an Arab Today correspondent reported.
Residents said the jihadist opposition group Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) was responsible for the attack, and reported violent clashes between the two opposition factions.?
One person was killed and ten wounded after a member of ISIS opened fire on demonstraters protesting against the jihadist group.
Raqa has for weeks witnessed clashes between local rebel groups and the Islamist ?brigades that took control of the city in March, making it the first provincial capital ?to fall under opposition control.
Recent protests in the northern city have called for the release of missing people and for ISIS to leave, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.