Syrian regime nears capture of rebel stronghold in south

Syrian regime forces were close to capturing a rebel stronghold in the southern province of Daraa on Monday, backed by Russian air strikes, a monitor and state media said.
"Army units are continuing to progress on several axes in Sheikh Miskeen," state news agency SANA said.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, reported heavy fighting and several dozen Russian air strikes on the town.
"Regime forces now control around 70 percent of Sheikh Miskeen," Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said.
The group did not have an immediate casualty toll for in the fighting.