But even as the threat of a western strike looms,
fighting on the ground between both sides continues, as the Syrian army continues to try and wrest control away from the opposition.
The northern town of
Ariha holds strategic significance as it's located along a major highway linking the coastal province of
Latakia, with that of
Idlib province. Capturing the town would allow Assad's forces to open supply routes into Idlib, where rebels control most of the territory.
Some activists in the area reporting on the fighting said that the town was still not under Assad's full control, but would eventually fall to Assad's troops who have the superior firepower.
Activists reported heavy army shelling, as well as the use of air power against rebel positions in the town, with ground soldiers then moving in to capture rebel areas.
The Syrian opposition meanwhile have
warned of possible chemical attacks to be carried out by the Syrian army. Speaking from Istanbul, SNC (Syrian National Coalition) Spokesman Khalid Saleh told reporters that 3 military convoys containing chemical weapons were being moved near the southern city of Deraa, with two of the convoys reaching their destination.
The opposition based their claims according to information they managed to obtain from informants inside the Syrian army and government.
