The Syrian army has pounded the rebel-held central town of Qusayr, killing at least 51 people in an apparent preparation for a ground assault, watchdog and activists said.
The attack on Sunday came a day after a rare interview with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was released, in which he said that his government was not using "fighters from outside of Syria, of other nationalities, and needs no support from any Arab or foreign state".
There are now conflicting reports as to whether or not government forces have entered the town center, with state TV reporting the army is inside the walls, but the opposition fighters telling Al Jazeera that this is not the case.
Reports coming out of Qusayr, which is in Homs province, said fighters of the Lebanese Hezbollah
movement assisted the military.
"We're hearing that the military is getting help from Hezbollah in neighbouring Lebanon, which is a staunch ally of Damascus," she said.
"The rebels are calling for more help and weapons to try to face the Syrian government [forces]. It seems like a very heavy offensive, that could turn into a ground assault, according to activists.
If the military overpowers the rebels in Qusayr, "it's a very strategic win, because the town connects
Assad's seat of power, Damascus, with the towns on the coast, many of which support him," she said.
Rami Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs, American University of Beirut said that Assad would want control of Qusayr before the conference being planned for June to discuss a resolution to the conflict.
"There are several different strategic, diplomatic, and political factors that makes Qusayr particularly important," he said.
"It is the heartland of the Alawite community, it has been used as a conduit for supplies, men and guns going in to Syria, and it is close to Lebanon.
"Assad wants to make sure he is in the strongest position possible if this conference takes place."
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