Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


         Activists Say 23 Hezbollah Militants Killed in Syria Fighting

   by VOA News

   Syrian activists say at least 23 Hezbollah militants have been killed
   in fighting for the town of Qusair, as Syrian forces press a weeks-long
   offensive to recapture the strategic area from rebels.
   The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the
   deaths of the Lebanon-based militants Monday, saying more than 70
   others were wounded.
   Qusair is located along the Syrian-Lebanese border, and links Syria's
   capital Damascus to the Mediterranean coast.  There was no independent
   confirmation of who controlled the town Monday.  Controlling it would
   solidify President Assad's access to coastal regions largely inhabited
   by his minority Alawite sect.   Qusair also has formed part of a
   cross-border smuggling route for rebels.
   Syrian state media said the army had "restored security" to most of
   Qusair and was pursuing "terrorist groups" in the town.  Syria uses the
   term "terrorists" to describe the rebels fighting a two-year war to
   oust President Bashar al-Assad.
   The Reuters news agency quoted opposition activists saying rebel
   fighters had pushed back the government forces.
   As Syrian refugees continue to stream into Jordan and Lebanon, the
   international aid group Oxfam warned that warmer summer weather will
   increase health-related risks due to a lack of shelter, water and basic
   sanitation.
   Increased cases of public health-related diseases such as diarrhea and
   skin infections have already been recorded in host communities and
   temporary settlements, where an increasing number of refugees now live.
   In Lebanon's Bekaa Valley alone, there are now some 240 tented
   settlements, six times the number recorded in January.
   As of May 2013, some 635,000 people are in need of assistance in
   Lebanon - both refugees and host communities - and Oxfam says it
   anticipates this number to increase to over 740,000 by November.
   More than 80,000 people have been killed and several million displaced
   since the start of the rebellion against Assad in March 2011.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/activists-say-23-hezbollah-militants-
   killed-in-syria-fighting/1664258.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/activists-say-23-hezbollah-militants-killed-in-syria-fighting/1664258.html