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Subscribe to RSSRebel fighters in Syria claim to have seized another border crossing into Turkey, from the control of President Assad's government forces. But around the capital Damascus, the rebels are losing ground. Three southern suburbs have been retaken by the president's forces. ITV's Bill Neely reports from Damascus.
AKCAKALE, Turkey -- Syrian rebels seized a third border crossing with Turkey on Wednesday, a Turkish official said, after fierce overnight battles with Syrian government troops that sent bullets flying into Syria's northern neighbor.
Reuters television footage showed a rebel tearing down the Syrian flag on top of what appeared to be a Syrian customs building at the Tel Abyad frontier gate.
"I can confirm that the gate has fallen. It is under the complete control of the rebels," a Turkish official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
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Minutes earlier, sporadic gunfire had echoed around the area and black smoke had risen from parts of the building.
Rebels could be seen celebrating on top of the customs building, with one firing his gun into the air. There was no sign of any Syrian government troops at the crossing.
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The clashes, which started late on Tuesday, were the first time insurgents fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had tried to seize a border zone in Syria's al-Raqqa province, most of which has remained solidly pro-Assad.
Rebels hold two other crossings on the northern border with Turkey. The third will strengthen their control in the north and put more pressure on Assad's army as the two sides battle for control of Syria's largest city Aleppo, not far away.
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Leave a Comment:
The Syrians have chemical weapons......and our president is busy hanging out with Lettermen and Jay Z.
Yeah, so???
What's YOUR solution - getting involved in yet ANOTHER Mid East lost cause where thousands more of our troops would be dying for nothing, and possibly - correction: PROBABLY- starting World War 3?
drrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
That's funny....it's okay for Obama to allow our military to die while protecting JP Morgan as they mine for gold in Afghanistan.
http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2011/05/11/jp-morgan-hunt-afghan-gold/
Yeah JW, the George Bush Cluster F worked out so well?? Obama was just talking in a public forum about Mitts honest comments that 47% of Americans are expendable. Game over for the corporate raider. Let the Muslim Arabs solve their own problems for once.
My thoughts exactly, Hotticket.
Apparently jw101 thinks we should commit our military to another country in the region, so we can play Policeman, again. He probably also thinks that we shouldn't arm the rebels because they are all "terrorists". So if we can't side with the rebels, and if we can't let Assad have chemical weapons under his control, then what are we supposed to do? Are we to invade and treat everyone as an enemy, exterminating the whole country, and give Iran/Hezbollah an open invitation to cause some more problems for Israel?
Some people will say just about anything to try to get their little political jab in there, won't they?
Yep. Nailed it, my friend.
That's funny....it's okay for Obama to allow our military to die while protecting JP Morgan as they mine for gold in Afghanistan.
http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2011/05/11/jp-morgan-hunt-afghan-gold/
Did you all REALLY think we were in Afghanistan to promote "democracy"? ...Oh, how sweet. LOL!
Also, the Chinese are over there mining valuable resources.
Haven't you ever wondered why we aren't in Korea helping them achieve "Democracy" as their people starve to death?
That's easy, the NKs have nukes that they're crazy enough to detonate in their own country.
does that mean that we were playing world police in stopping hitler? crazy how these fools thinks it ok for the world to turn a blind eye to genocide of citizens seeking freedom, I have 1 question? Where is your morals???? Especially in supporting a evil dictator right to slaughter thousands of his own people seeking freedom
It is a civil war. Part of the ME civil war. The west needs to stay out of it. Let the Saudi's fight it out with Iran in this proxy war. And also when the real suni - shia war starts. Keep selling arms to the suni's like we are doing and better arms to Israel - they'll be needing them soon. Neither Dem's or Rebub's would dare to not back Israel, if they have good wepons, maybe the US can avoid another war in the ME.
Obama won't even talk to Israel much less back them. Obama is on his islamic brothers side.
what a bogus statement, no wonder Obama will be re-elected. Republicans look like a bunch of crazy fools supporting dictators aim to crush the arab spring movement to prevent citizens from gaining their freedom. Obama has told the world and shown them that he is backing Israel.
AR Hunter....
YOU could be right....He seems to kick out leaders in certain countries and let muslims take over...
Is he trying to get muslims to rule all countries??
WHY the f*ck doesn't he stay the F*CK out of it and attend to his own country
Obama has attended to his own country far better than any republcan in modern times, stop crying over bogus claims, you look like a idiot
It IS hard to root for almost anyone in the Islamic world since it has so many problems, it is one step below hopeless and gone. BUT GO SYRIAN REBELS. Take out Assad, his pretty little western wife, and his inner circle, along with all his Alewite supporters. I hope Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the west is funnelling to the rebels whatever they need. Can't wait to see Assad dragged in chains thru the streets of Damascus. With his wife in chains right behind him. Don't kill him like Khaddafy. Humiliate him 100 times over for the genocide commtted by him.
finally, a sensible comment that supports those seeking freedom instead of a dictator commiting genocide