Blasts kill 8 in Syria, army advances in strategic city

At least eight people were killed Thursday in separate explosions and mortar attacks in Syria, as the Syrian army regained control over three towns in the countryside of the strategic city of al-Qussair, the state-run SANA news agency said.

One man was killed when a mortar shell struck the capital Damascus' suburb of Harasta, SANA said, adding that another two men were killed when two explosive devices went off in Busra al- Harir town in the southern province of Daraa.

In Damascus' suburb of Kanaker, five civilians were killed when an explosive device ripped through a house that was used as storage of explosive devices by the rebels.

SANA said the five civilians were in nearby houses that were affected by the blast.

Meanwhile, the Syrian army regained three towns in al-Qussair in central Syria, namely Brak, Jawadieh and Arjoun.

The army pushed its way into al-Qussair early Sunday after taking control of its suburb following 46 days of battling. The offensive aims to cut the rebels' main supply line.

The army's recent advancement is deemed as the Syrian administration's efforts to strengthen its position ahead of the forthcoming Geneva talks on Syria slated for mid-June. President Bashar al-Assad has decided to send an official delegation to Geneva, while the Syrian National Coalition, the main umbrella opposition group in exile, is set to boycott the meeting.