Fighting displaces 45,000 in Syria: UN

Syrian troops have made strategic gains from rebels in the south, a monitor said yesterday, as they ramped up an offensive causing yet another wave of mass displacement.

The United Nations said the latest fighting in Daraa province has forced 45,000 civilians to flee, describing it as the largest displacement in the area so far.

Government forces intensified their offensive in the south last week, the latest phase in a Russian-backed campaign to retake territory lost since the start of the Syrian war seven years ago.

Overnight they recaptured two villages that allowed them to connect two of their front lines and cut off a rebel pocket, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

"The regime achieved its most significant advance since last Tuesday," the Britain-based monitoring group said.

A military source cited by state television confirmed the army had seized both Basr al-Harir and Mlehat al-Atash.

The Observatory said at least 15 rebels were killed in the latest battle, their bloodiest day since the government began ratcheting up its operations. A total of 29 rebels and 24 pro-government fighters have been killed so far. At least 32 civilians have also lost their lives, the Observatory said.

Rebel forces also control part of the neighbouring province of Quneitra. Both provinces abut the armistice line with Israeli forces in the annexed Golan Heights.