AKIPRESS.COM - Syrian rebels seized a government stronghold and a key town near the border with Jordan, ousting Syrian soldiers and allied militiamen from the region after four days of intense battles, Dayton Daily News cites opposition activists and rebels Wednesday.

There was no immediate comment from the government on the reported fall of Busra Sham, a town in southern Syria known for its historical citadel and Roman amphitheater declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

For the rebels, the town's capture is a strategic gain both because of its geographical location and symbolism.

Busra Sham had remained firmly in the hands of President Bashar Assad's troops throughout the four-year-old conflict and was considered to be a stronghold of pro-government forces in the southern province of Daraa. It is a predominantly Sunni town with a population of some 30,000 but also has a sizable Shiite community.

The town is some 10 kilometers to the Jordanian border.

"Today is a happy day, Busra al-Sham has been completely liberated," said Ahmad Masalma, an opposition activist in Daraa. He said some 10,000 rebels from various groups took part in the attack on the town, which began Saturday from three sides and ended at dawn Wednesday. They included members of al-Qaida's branch in Syria, the Nusra Front group.

He said that Syrian government forces were holed up in the citadel in the last hours before they finally withdrew, adding that no major damage was done to the citadel.