Syrian Army Pounds Rebel-Held Southwest As Thousands Flee For Safety

The Syrian army and allied forces have pounded rebel-held areas of the southwest as thousands of civilians fled to safer opposition held areas along the border with Jordan and Israel. Reuters reports Busra al Harir, Nahta, Maliha, and a sting of towns and villages east of Deraa city have received the sharp end of a ramped up assault begun last week by the Syrian army.