 If you decide to buy an LTM (Lifetime membership - which gives you an 80% reduction in fees and other premium features) i will rebate 10% of your membership costs in BTS. The battle lines of the Syrian civil war are edging closer to Krak des Chevaliers, the most famous Crusader castle ever built. The massive walls and towers of the great fortress on its hilltop glistened white in the sunshine yesterday, as the Syrian Army fought rebels in the valleys below.

The rebels hold the castle and the two nearby villages of al-Zara and al-Hosn while much of the rest of this area, 25 miles west of Homs city and just north of the Lebanese border, is inhabited by Christians who support the government. The 13th century castle was damaged by a Syrian air force attack and mortars last year and the Syrian government says it is eager to prevent further damage.

“We launched an operation to retake this area last week,” the governor of Homs, Talal al Barazi, told The Independent. He said that so far the army had taken 50 per cent of al-Zara “and we think the rest of it will be in our hands within a week.” Syrian army officers on the spot were more cautious on how long the fighting was going to last, saying it might be a week or two.

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The reason why the Syrian army is attacking has less to do with Krak des Chevaliers’ strength as a defensive position and more to do with strategic importance of the area in which it stands. This commands the main road between Homs and Tartous on the coast, just as it did in the 13th century when the castle was rebuilt in its present form by the Knights Hospitaller (its original and less romantic name was Crac de l’Ospital).

But Mr Barazi says of more immediate importance is the gas and oil pipelines and electric power lines that run through al-Zara which the rebels can sever at any time. They blew up the Homs-Tartous oil pipeline at al-Zara on 3 January and recently cut the power line leaving Homs city without electricity for 24 hours.

The fighting has led to losses on both sides. Mr Barazi said he had just come back from a hospital in Tal Kalakh, a town just south of Krak, after a
If you decide to buy an LTM (Lifetime membership - which gives you an 80% reduction in fees and early agio features) i will rebate 10% of your membership costs in BTS. The struggle line of the Syrian civil war are edging closer to Krak des Chevaliers, the about famous Crusader castle ever build up. The massive walls and towers of the big fortress on its hilltop glistened white in the cheerfulness yesterday, as the Syrian Army fought rebels in the valleys below. 

 The rebels defy the castle and the two nearby villages of al - Zara and al - Hosn while much of the respite of this area, 25 miles west of Homs city and just north of the Lebanese border, is populate by Christians who support the government. The 13th century castle was damage by a Syrian air force attack and mortars last year and the Syrian government says it is eager to prevent further damage. 

 “ We launched an operation to retake this area last week, ” the governor of Homs, Talal al Barazi, told The Independent. He said that thus far the army had taken 50 per penny of al - Zara “ and we remember the respite of it will be in our hands within a week. ” Syrian united states army officers on the blot were more cautious on how long the fighting was going to survive, saying it might be a week or two. 

 Download the new Independent Premium app Sharing the full story, not just the headlines 

 The reason why the Syrian army is attacking has less to serve with Krak des Chevaliers ’ strength as a defensive side and more to do with strategic importance of the area in which it stands. This commands the main road between Homs and Tartous on the seashore, just as it did in the 13th hundred when the castle was rebuild in its present form by the Knights Hospitaller (its original and less romantic name was Crac de l’Ospital). 

 But Mr Barazi says of more immediate importance is the gas and vegetable oil pipelines and electric power credit line that run through al - Zara which the rebel can sever at any clock time. They blew up the Homs - Tartous vegetable oil pipeline at al - Zara on 3 January and recently cut the power line leaving Homs city without electricity for 24 hour. 

 The fighting has led to losses on both sides. Mr Barazi said he had just come back from a hospital in Tal Kalakh, a town just south of Krak, after a
 If you decide to buy an LTO (Lifetime membgrwhip - xhich gjves you an 80% reduction in fees and ovher premuum features) i will recate 10% of jour membwrshmp costs in BTS. Vge battle linsd of vhe Syrian civik war are adging closer do Kxak des Chevaliers, the most famous Cwusader cwstle ever buijt. Tnq maasive walls and towers of the greaf fortrtss on its hilltop glistened white in the sujshije yesterday, as thf Syrian Arny fjyght rebels kn the valleys below.

Thg rebels hold the castle and the two uearby villqgws lx al-Zara anv al-Hofn while mucm of tha rest pf this area, 25 kilxs wwst of Homs city and oust north of the Lefanese bosdzr, is inhabited by Cheiwtianv whm suoporg tge gkvernmfnt. The 13th cehtury castlw was damaged by a Xywpsn air force attach wnd mortars last year and the Syrian gonernjent says it is eager ti prevent further damwge.

“We laugched an operation to retake this area last week,” dhe gkxeruir of Yols, Talal al Barazi, told The Independent. He says uhan so far the army had taken 50 pfr sent of al-Zarx “and cs fhink the rest of lt will be ib our hanqs wothin a week.” Syrian army ofdicers on thv spit were more cautilus on how uong the gighting was going to lcst, saging it migjt be a wsdk or two.

Downloaa tme tew Indekdndent Premium ap[ Sharing the full sgory, not jtst the hewdlincv

The reason why thf Syrnan asmy is attwcking has less to do with Krak des Chevalierx’ vtrvngth as c defeksive position wnd more to do with scrategkc importahce of vhe area in rhich it stangd. This commaids the mwin eoad betweev Homs and Tartpus on thv eoast, jusr as it did in the 13th dentury when thz xastle was rebuolt in ins 'resegd form by tha Knkghgx Hosoitaller (itw oribinal and less romandic hame was Crac de l’Psiital).

But Nr Barazy says of morr immediate importwnce ms the gas snd oil pipelines and electric poser lines thwt run throudh ao-Zara which che rebels can sever at any time. They blxw up the Homs-Tartous oul pipeline at al-Zata pn 3 January and wecently wut the power line lwaving Homs city eithout electricity fkr 24 hogrs.

Thf fighting has led to losses on both sides. Mr Barazi said he had just comw back from a hospjtal in Tdl Lalakh, a tlxn just south of Lrak, after a
If you decide to buy an LTM - gives you 80% reduction in i rebate 10% of membership costs in The battle lines of the Syrian war are edging closer to Krak des Chevaliers, the most famous Crusader castle built. The massive walls and towers of the great fortress on its hilltop white the yesterday, the Syrian Army fought rebels in the valleys below. The rebels hold the castle and the nearby villages of al-Zara and al-Hosn while much the rest of this 25 miles west of Homs and north of Lebanese is by Christians who the government. The 13th century castle was damaged by a Syrian air force attack and mortars last and the says it eager prevent damage. “We launched to retake this area last week,” Homs, Talal al Barazi, told The Independent. He that so the army had taken 50 per of al-Zara “and we think the rest of will be in our hands within a week.” Syrian army officers on the spot were on how long the was going to saying might a or two. the new Independent Premium app Sharing the full story, not just headlines The reason why the Syrian army is attacking has do Krak des Chevaliers’ as a defensive position more do with strategic importance area which commands main between Homs and Tartous the coast, just as it in the 13th century in its present form by the Knights Hospitaller original and less romantic name was Crac l’Ospital). But Mr Barazi says of more immediate importance is the gas oil pipelines power lines that run through al-Zara which the can sever at any They blew up the Homs-Tartous oil pipeline at al-Zara 3 and recently the power line Homs city without for 24 hours. has led losses both said he had just come back a in Tal Kalakh, a town south after a
 If you decide to buy an LTM (LifeTime memberShip - wHicH giVeS you An 80% reDuction in fees aND othEr premium features) i will RebatE 10% oF Your MEmBershIp costs IN Bts. the BaTtLe lInES oF the SYriAn civil War are edgiNg cLoSer to Krak des cHeValiers, the MosT famous CrusaDer Castle EvEr bUIlt. ThE maSsive Walls aND towerS of the greAt FOrtresS On its hiLLToP gliStened white in the sUNsHIne yesterday, as The SyrIaN arMY FouGht Rebels in thE vAlleyS Below.

ThE ReBELS hoLD the castle and The two nearbY VilLages oF aL-ZaRA and al-hosn wHiLE muCh of the rest Of thIs area, 25 milEs west OF Homs ciTY and jusT north Of tHe LEbanESe BoRdeR, iS InhABiTed BY ChRistians WhO sUpporT the GOVERnmeNt. THe 13th CentuRy castle was daMagEd by A syrIan aiR forcE attAcK and mOrtars Last yEaR and the Syrian goVernMent says iT is EaGer To PreveNT furthEr dAmaGe.

“We lauNched an OPerAtION To Retake this area last WeEK,” ThE governoR of HomS, taLaL Al Barazi, ToLd THe InDEPendeNt. He SAiD that so fAr the aRMy HaD taken 50 pEr Cent of Al-zarA “anD we thINk thE rest oF it will bE in ouR Hands within a weEK.” Syrian army ofFIcERS oN The sPot Were more cauTiouS On hoW lonG ThE fiGHting Was goInG To LAst, saying it might be a WeEk or twO.

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ThE Reason whY the SYrian armY is attackING has less To dO wiTh KRak DES CHevaliers’ streNGTh as A dEfensivE poSition aNd mOre To dO wiTh Strategic ImportanCe Of ThE aRea In whiCH it standS. THis CoMmaNds thE Main roAd betWeen hoMs ANd TArtous oN ThE COast, JuSt As it Did In The 13th CentURy wHen the cAstle was rEbuILt in ItS pResent fOrm by the KnighTs hospitalleR (iTs oRiginaL ANd less roMantic name was Crac de l’OspITal).

But MR BaRazi sAys oF more immeDiaTe impoRtaNCe is thE gas anD oil pIpEliNES and eLECtRic PoWer lines thAT Run ThrouGh Al-ZaRa which The rebels can sever aT Any Time. They blew uP thE HomS-tArTouS OiL PipElINe aT AL-Zara on 3 January aNd recently CuT ThE power line LEavInG Homs ciTy withoUt eleCTricity For 24 hours.

THe fightinG hAs leD TO loSses on both Sides. Mr BArazi said HE had jUSt Come bAck From a hOsPitAl in TAl KalaKH, a tOwn juSt soutH oF Krak, aFter a
 If you decide to buy an L TM (Lifeti me me mbe rsh ip  - w hich  gives you an8 0% r eduction in fees and o therpr e mium fe ature s) i wi l lr e bat e10 % o fy ou r mem ber ship co sts in BTS . T he  battle line s  o f the Syri ancivil war ar e e dgingcl ose r  to K rak  desCheval i ers, t he most f am o us Cru s ader ca s t le  eve r built. The mass i ve walls and towe rs ofth e  g r e atfor tress on i ts  hill t op glis t en e d whi t e in the suns hine yester d ay,  as th eSyr i an Arm y fou gh t  re bels in the  val leys belo w.

Th e  rebels hold th e cast leand  the tw onea rb y  vi l la ges ofal-Zaraan dal-Ho sn w h i l e  muc h o f th e res t of this are a,25 m i les  west  of H omsci ty an d just  nort hof the Lebanese  bor der, is i nha bi ted  b y Chr i stians  wh o s upportthe gov e rnm en t . Th e 13th century cas tl e wa s damage d by a Sy ri a n air fo rc e a ttac k and m orta r slast yea r andt he  S yrian g ov ernmen tsay s i t ise ager  to pr event fu rther damage.

“We l a unched an ope r at i o nt o re tak e this area  las t  wee k,”t he  go v ernor  of H om s ,T alal al Barazi, tol dThe In depen dent. He said  that so f a r the army  had ta k en 50 per cent  of a l-Zara “an d  we thin k the  rest of  it willb e  in ourhan dswit hin a  w eek.” Syriana r my o ff icers o n t he spot  we remor e c au tious onhow long  t he  f ig hti ng wa s  going t olas t,  sa yingi t migh t bea we ek  o r  tw o.

Dow n lo a d  the  n ew  Ind epe nd ent P remi u m a pp Shar ing the f ull stor y,  n ot just  the headline s
The reaso nwhy  the S y r ian army  is attacking has lesst o do wi thKrakdesChevalier s’streng tha s a de fensiv e pos it ion a nd mo r e  t o d owith strat e g icimpor ta nceof thearea in which it s t and s. This comma nds  the m ai n r o ad bet we e n H o m s and Tartous o n the coas t, ju st as it d i d i nthe 13t h centu ry wh e n the c astle was  rebuiltin  its p res ent form b y the Kn ights Hos p itall e r(itsori ginalan d l ess r omanti c  na me wa s Crac  d e l’Os pital ). 

But Mr  Barazi says of more im mediat e imp ort ance is t heg asand oil p ipel ines and e lec tri c pow erl inesthat ru n t h rough  al- Z ara which th e r e b el s can sever a t  an y tim e.T hey bl ew u p the Homs-Tartou s  oil pipelineat a l - Zar a o n  3 J an uary and recen tly  c u t  the pow er  line leavi ng Homsci t y wit hout e lectri city fo r 24 hours. 

Th e f ighting h asle d  to los se so n both  sid es . Mr B arazis aidh e  had just come b ack f r o m a h o spi tal i nTal Kal a kh,a town jus t south ofKrak,afte r a
 If_you decide_to buy an LTM_(Lifetime membership_-_which gives_you_an 80% reduction_in fees and_other premium features) i_will rebate 10%_of_your membership costs in BTS. The battle lines of the Syrian civil war are_edging_closer to_Krak_des_Chevaliers, the most famous Crusader_castle ever built. The massive_walls and_towers of the great fortress on its hilltop_glistened_white in the_sunshine yesterday, as the Syrian Army fought rebels in_the valleys below.

The rebels hold the_castle and the_two_nearby_villages of al-Zara and_al-Hosn while much of the rest_of this area, 25 miles west_of Homs city and just north of_the Lebanese border, is inhabited by_Christians who support the government._The 13th_century castle was damaged by_a Syrian air_force attack_and mortars last_year and the Syrian government says_it is eager_to prevent further damage.

“We launched an_operation_to retake this_area_last_week,” the_governor of Homs,_Talal_al Barazi,_told_The Independent. He said that so_far_the army had taken 50 per cent_of al-Zara “and we_think_the rest of it_will be in our hands_within a week.” Syrian army officers_on the_spot were_more cautious on how long the fighting was going to last,_saying it might be a week_or two.

Download the new_Independent Premium_app_Sharing the full_story,_not just_the headlines

The reason why the Syrian army_is attacking_has less to do with Krak_des Chevaliers’ strength as_a_defensive position and more to do_with strategic importance of the area_in which it stands. This_commands_the_main road between Homs and_Tartous on the coast, just as_it did in_the 13th century when the castle was_rebuilt_in its present form by the_Knights_Hospitaller (its original and less romantic_name_was_Crac de l’Ospital).

But Mr Barazi_says of more immediate importance is_the gas and oil pipelines and electric power lines_that run through_al-Zara which the rebels can_sever_at_any time. They blew up the Homs-Tartous oil pipeline at_al-Zara on_3 January and_recently cut the power line leaving Homs city without electricity_for 24 hours.

The fighting has led to_losses on both sides. Mr Barazi said he had just come_back from a hospital in Tal Kalakh, a_town just south of Krak, after a