Syrian rebels launch offensive aimed at border town of Daraa

BEIRUT — Syrian rebels launched an offensive Thursday to capture government-held neighborhoods in the southern city of Daraa, setting off fighting that killed dozens of people, including a man struck by a shell that slammed into a market in a Jordanian border town.

Daraa is the birthplace of the uprising against President Bashar Assad that erupted in 2011. The uprising began with mostly peaceful protests but escalated into a full-blown civil war after a brutal government crackdown.

The new offensive started around dawn Thursday, aiming to “liberate the city of Daraa,” said Maj. Issam el Rayyes, spokesman for the Southern Front, a coalition of several dozen moderate rebel groups that is leading the push.

The spokesman said rebels and government troops were clashing in several locations.

Syrian State TV said rebel shelling attacks on Daraa killed six people and wounded 13. It said electricity was cut in the city after a main station was hit north of Daraa.

A Jordanian security official said one man was killed and four people were wounded when a shell from Syria struck a market in the town of Ramtha. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the issue with reporters.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 20 troops and pro-government gunmen as well as 18 rebels were killed on the first day of fighting.