50,000 flee fighting as Syrian rebels targeted

Fighting escalated in southern Syria yesterday as government forces pushed deep into rebel-held territories in Daraa province in a week-long offensive that the UN estimated had displaced up to 50,000 people.

Jordan said its borders were closed to new refugees, calling on the UN to provide security, which in turn called on the warring parties to ensure the protection of the fleeing civilians.

Daraa’s residents described living in extreme fear and said many had left for the frontier with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, believing it to be safer.