The Syrian military unleashed a massive bombardment against one rebel enclave on Monday and prepared for the withdrawal of insurgents from another as Syrian President Bashar Assad continued his push to crush the rebels' last besieged strongholds in the war-torn country.
However, missile strikes targeting several military bases on Sunday – not claimed by any party despite speculation blaming the Israeli military – underscored the risks of a wider escalation in the seven-year conflict.
There were more than 140 Syrian army airstrikes on the town of Rastan and surrounding villages in the rebel enclave between the cities of Hama and Homs early on Monday, alongside sustained shelling, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said.
Last week a Syrian government minister said the enclave would be the army's next target after it retook all rebel areas around the capital, a goal it looked closer to achieving with Monday's expected insurgent withdrawal from south Damascus.
Later on Monday, Syrian state TV said the army would cease fire for 48-72 hours in the pocket between Homs and Hama – the most populous remaining encircled area in Syria – to allow rebel groups time to agree to a surrender deal under which they would leave for opposition-held areas in northern Syria.
The cease-fire would be the last deadline before "the military operation begins," state TV said.
The Observatory said fighting had stopped there by late Monday afternoon.
