Assad forces attack strategic town near Turkey, rebels say
By REUTERS
AMMAN - Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces launched a helicopter-backed offensive to retake a rebel-held town between the Mediterranean and the Turkish border on Monday, killing four opposition fighters, an opposition Free Syrian Army official said.The fighting in Qastal Maaf, a mountain town on the road from the port of Latakia to Turkey, marks the first outbreak of major fighting in the strategic forest region, 8 km (5 miles) from the border and home to some of Syria's northern air defenses, Selim al-Omar said from Latakia.Gaza humanitarian aid port will be up and running by the weekend
