BREAKING NEWS

Syrian forces take two villages near Lebanon

BEIRUT - Syrian forces took control of two villages near the Lebanese border on Saturday after driving out rebels, state media said, helping President Bashar Assad secure the route connecting Damascus with Aleppo and the Mediterranean coast.
Assad needs to secure the route to transport chemical agents out of Syria via the coast, part of an agreement with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to remove Syria's chemicals weapons arsenal.