Activists say Syrian warplanes are pounding rebel-held town near Lebanese border

BEIRUT – Activists say that Syrian warplanes are pounding a rebel-held town near Lebanon’s border in an apparent attempt to dislodge opposition fighters from the area.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says there is heavy fighting in the town of Yabroud between troops loyal to President Bashar Assad and rebels trying to overthrow him.

The Observatory, which has documented the conflict since it erupted in March 2011, says warplanes have carried out 10 airstrikes so far on Wednesday.

Lebanon’s Mayadeen TV says the Syrian army has started “a wide-scale military operation in Yabroud” and that the troops “are advancing.”

Preparations were underway on the Lebanese side of the border to receive more Syrians fleeing the area. Yabroud has been controlled by the opposition for much of the nearly 3-year-old conflict.