Syria army widens southwest offensive, U.N. says 45,000 flee

Syrian troops widened a major offensive against rebels in the southwest on Tuesday and Jordan said it would not open its border to tens of thousands of civilians fleeing the attack. At least 45,000 people have fled the upsurge in fighting in Syria's southwestern Deraa province, heading toward the border with Jordan, the United Nations said. President Bashar al-Assad is aiming to restore control over a strategically vital part of Syria at the borders with Jordan and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, building on his military's momentum elsewhere in the seven-year conflict.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2yGrBkz