The Central city of al-Qusseir which was under the control of the rebels in recent days has now fallen strategically and militarily after the Syrian army blocked the routes used by the terrorists for communication and escape, a prominent Syrian military expert and strategist said on Tuesday.
    

"Qusseir has fallen strategically and militarily now; as far as the battlefield and the troops number is concerned, the Syrian army in almost 70% in control," Salim Harba told FNA on Tuesday.

Harba also said that the Syrian army troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad are present "in other areas of the city as well, but are currently in fight with the terrorists and armed groups stationed in those regions".

From strategic perspectives, the Syrian army has created an end for the battle in al-Qusseir which will lead to its win, he added.

"Militarily speaking, the Syrian army has managed to stage a battle in al-Qusseir at such a speed, preciseness and skill that even the most powerful armies of the world cannot carry it out," Harba said.

The Syrian army started the operation in al-Qusseir city 46 days ago to regain control of the city.

Earlier in the day, the state media in Syria said the army was still advancing in the strategic city and took full control over its Eastern part.

The rebels in al-Qusseir have been buoyed by Salafi groups in Lebanon's Northern city of Tripoli and Ersal. The Syrian government has recently warned that it would not waver in responding to the armed groups which are moving in an out between Syria and Lebanon.

Earlier reports on Monday said that the Syrian armed forces restored security and stability to most of al-Qusseir city neighborhoods in Homs countryside, killing and wounding a large number of terrorists, most of them non-Syrian fighters.

Dozens of terrorists laid down their weapons and surrendered to the army, a military source told the Syrian Arab News Agency, adding that scores of terrorists were arrested in cooperation with the locals.

Nawaf Alwani, the leader of a terrorist group affiliated to al-Nusra Front, Alaa Amer, Jamal Khankan, Mohammad Jamal al-Mashhadani, Mohammad Bakr, Mohammad al-Abdullah, Ahmad Sahms Eddin, Abdul-Aziz al-Itr, Khedr Sabra, Basel Mohammad Turkmani, Maher Sukkar and Khaled Rahal were among the killed terrorists, the source added.

The army is currently pursuing the armed terrorist groups in some areas in the city.

Army units destroyed large numbers of tunnels used by the terrorists to carry out their terrorist acts and hide their weapons and equipment there.

The army also seized huge amounts of weapons and ammunition and dismantled dozens of explosive devices planted by the terrorists on the roads and in the buildings.

Source: Fars