Syrian soldiers backed by Hizbollah fighters recaptured the town of Maaloula, north of Damascus, yesterday, military sources and state TV said, further squeezing rebels’ supply routes through the Qalamoun mountains into Lebanon.

Islamist fighters, some from the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, had taken over part of the ancient Christian town in December and held several nuns captive until releasing them in March in a prisoner exchange deal.

Government forces have recaptured several rebel-held areas and border towns in recent months, closing off supply routes from Lebanon and securing the main highway leading north from Damascus towards central Syria, Homs and the Mediterranean.

“They are inside Maaloula now. It is under their complete control, including the monastery of Mar Thecla,” a military source in contact with government fighters on the ground said.

At another ancient Christian site, Mar Sarkis – a Greek Orthodox monastery, on a hilltop above Maaloula, which dates back to the fourth century – a Reuters witness saw crosses and pictures of saints smashed and covered with dust on the floor.

Recapture of Maaloula further squeezes rebel supply routes

“God willing, the army will be able to free all of the Qalamoun area within days,” a Syrian army officer in Maaloula told Reuters. “Most of the terrorists have been killed and others fled to near-by villages.

“We can say that 80 per cent of Qalamoun is under the control of the Syrian army.”

Syrian state TV aired pictures of bodies it said were Nusra fighters killed during the offensive.

Maaloula, five kilometres from the main road linking Damascus to Homs, has changed hands at least four times in attacks and counter-assaults by rebels and government forces.

Control of the road would help secure President Bashar al-Assad’s grip over central Syria, and would also enable safe passage for hundreds of tonnes of chemical agents which are due to be shipped out of the country this year.

Assad, who appeared on the verge of defeat last year, said on Sunday that the conflict was at a “turning point” in his favour.

In the last few weeks, his forces have recaptured strategic towns along the Lebanese border includ-ing Yabroud and Rankous near Maaloula.

Maaloula’s churches and monasteries attracted both Christian and Muslim pilgrims before the conflict.