Activists said that regime forces escalated barrel bomb attacks and artillery shelling on opposition-held areas in Dara’a province. The bombardment was concentrated on the towns of Sheikh Misqin, Nawa, Jassem, Abtaa’, Tafas, Al Hirak, and Deir Al Adass. The intensified shelling comes as a result of the rebels’ capture of the majority of towns of villages of the province along with many strategic positions, most notably Al Harra Hill and its surroundings. Few days ago rebels destroyed a Shilka vehicle belonging to regime forces using a TOW missile in the town of Atman in rural Dara’a. Rebels said that the liberation of the town of Sheikh Misqin has paved the way for making a push towards the towns of Izraa’ and Qarfa with the aim of controlling the Damascus-Dara’a highway. A rebel commander confirmed the killing of more than 40 pro-regime militants, including many Hezbollah militiamen and that they captured seven tanks and three vehicles fitted with heavy machine guns and a large quantity of weapons. Dozens of pro-regime militants were killed earlier in an explosion inside a masjid in the city of Dara’a. Rebels said that regime forces planted explosives and laid mines inside the masjid with the intention of demolishing it if it falls to rebels but the explosives went off as a result of the violent clashes nearby. The masjid collapsed on the heads of pro-regime forces, and videos posted on the internet show many of them buried under the rubble. Heavy fighting broke out in different neighborhoods of Dara’a, while rebels targeted the security complex in the city with rockets, with reports of regime losses. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Naba’ News Agency)