Rebels, Al-Qaeda attack Syria's Daraa

Beirut 

Rebels including Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate on Thursday launched a fresh offensive on the major southern city of Daraa, saying their aim was to "purify" the area. 

Operation "Storm of Truth" was announced on Twitter by the Southern Front, an alliance of rebel groups, "to purify the province of Daraa from the filth of the gangs of (President Bashar al-) Assad." 

"The violent attack began this morning on regime-held parts of Daraa city, with both sides exchanging shellfire," Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Rami Abdel Rahman said.

"The groups are attacking government positions in northern parts of the city, but they haven't seized buildings yet." 

Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front and other Islamist militias are taking part in the fighting in Daraa, dubbed the "cradle of the revolution" against Assad which began in 2011 that triggered Syria's civil war.

An important rebel military commander has also died in the assault, the Observatory said. 

Abou Hadi Abboud, who headed the Fallujah al-Houran opposition group, part of the Southern Front military coalition, was killed Thursday when a shell hit his car in Daraa province.

"He is the most important rebel commander to be killed since the beginning of the Daraa offensive in June," Abdel Rahman said.