Islamist rebels led by Al Qaeda's Syrian affiliate launched a preemptive strike Monday on pro-regime forces in a mountainous area near the Lebanese border, setting off fierce clashes, a monitor said.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Al Nusra Front and other groups attacked positions belonging to the regime and Lebanon's Hezbollah, which backs the government, in the Qalamoun region.
"Violent clashes are ongoing since this morning between Hezbollah, regime troops and pro-regime militiamen on one side and Islamist factions and Al Nusra on the other side," the group said. (READ MORE)
