Syrian forces push into town held by rebels

The offensive came as President Bashar Assad tried to strengthen his grip on a strategic strip of land running from Damascus to the Mediterranean coast.

With the regime scoring gains on the battlefield, the US and Russia could face an even tougher task persuading Mr Assad and his opponents to attend talks on ending Syria’s 26-month-old conflict.

Government forces launched the offensive on Qusair just hours after the president said he would stay in his job until elections – effectively rejecting an opposition demand that any talks on a political transition lead to his exit.

The rebels control large rural areas in the north and east of the country, while Mr Assad has successfully defended his hold on Damascus, the coastal area and parts of Aleppo, Syria’s largest city.

Before the offensive, Qusair had been ringed by regime troops and fighters from the Lebanese militia Hezbollah, an Assad ally, for several weeks.