BEIRUT (AP) — The latest news on developments in the Syrian conflict. All times local:
12:45 p.m.
Syria’s state media is reporting that government forces have captured a strategic mountain in the country’s northwest.
State TV quoted an unnamed military official as saying that troops and pro-government militiamen captured the Nouba mountain in Latakia province early Wednesday.
Syrian troops have been on the offensive in different parts of the country under the cover of Russian airstrikes that began on Sept. 30.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the capture of Nouba mountain opens the way for government forces to approach the rebel stronghold of Salma.
The Observatory said the government troops were backed by fighters from Lebanon’s Hezbollah group.
Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV, which has a reporter embedded with Syrian troops, said government forces raised the Syrian flag over the mountain that overlooks a swath of rebel-held areas in Latakia.
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10:20 a.m.
The German military says it’s flown its first mission in support of the coalition effort against the so-called Islamic State group in Syria.
The Bundeswehr said Wednesday that a German tanker aircraft had refueled two fighter jets in-air as they flew missions against the extremist group, the dpa news agency reported.
A German frigate is also providing protection to the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, and German Tornado reconnaissance jets are expected to begin flying surveillance missions in January.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged the support after France asked for help in the wake of the recent deadly attacks in Paris.
Up to 1,200 troops will also be involved in the German mission, which is an exclusively non-combat support deployment.
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