Syria launches southward offensive against rebel groups

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region--Backed by Russian air power the Syrian army launched its first offensive on Wednesday against rebel groups south of the country.

The army is trying to wrest back control over the of Sheikh Maskin in Deraa province.

Controlling that town will give the Syrian army a supply route stretching from Damascus to the city of Deraa, near the border with Jordan which is home to training camps for many of these anti-Assad groups.

The Southern Front group has been fighting the Syrian regime and the Lebanese Hezbollah for control of that area for months now.

The rebels are backed by Western powers and many of them have been trained in Jordan.

The commander of one group within the Southern Front told Reuters that, "The army is making progress with heavy Russian aerial bombing. The raids are not stopping we have had over 40 raids in the last 24 hours alone."

The army has already succeeded in taking over the Brigade 82 base near the contested town.