February 12, 2014 - 14:27 AMT
Syrian warplanes pounding rebel-held town near Lebanon border: activists

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, according to the Associated Press.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 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, Feb 12.

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.