BEIRUT — Syria’s rebels stepped up attacks on strategic sites including a sprawling military complex in the country’s north Friday, and reports emerged that President Bashar Assad’s forces continued to fire Scud missiles at rebel areas.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told European leaders that Russia does not seek to protect Assad but that only a negotiated solution can end the conflict — an outcome that looks unlikely as rebels make gains across the country.
While few observers expect Syria’s 21-month-old conflict to end soon, most say steady rebel advances appear to be tipping the balance in favor of those fighting to topple Assad’s regime.
Anti-regime activists reported rebel attacks on strategic government sites in northern Syria on Friday, showing rebel efforts to cut government supply lines, free up roads and seize arms from government bases.
Near the northern city of Aleppo, rebels clashed with government forces at a sprawling military complex next to the town of Al-Safira, activists said.
An activist in the town said the complex contains military factories, a scientific research center that produces chemical weapons, and air-defense and artillery bases.
Rebels seized the artillery base earlier this week and have been trying to seize the air-defense base, said Hussein, who gave only his first name for fear of retribution.
The town’s proximity to the installations has cost it dearly, he said. Government airstrikes often target civilian areas, and more than twothirds of the town’s residents have fled, fearing the regime will use chemical weapons.
“We are scared that they will be blown up or that the regime will use them in revenge on the town,” he added.
Bilal Saab, head of the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, confirmed that the Al-Safira complex houses a chemical-weapons production facility but said it is unclear if such weapons have been stored there ready for use, or if rebels would even be able to use such weapons.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said seven rebels were killed in clashes in the area Friday. It said nearly two dozen more died in a government airstrike earlier this week after they captured a military warehouse.
Activists also said rebels had launched attacks on a number of military targets near the central city of Hama.
Activist Mousab Alhamadee said rebels had seized five army posts in the past two days near the town of Morek, which straddles the country’s primary northsouth highway north of Hama. Only one army tank battalion remains in the town’s immediate area, he said, giving the area’s rebels much more freedom to move.
“The regime is losing a complete geographic area,” he said.
Syria’s conflict started with political protests in March 2011 and has since evolved into a full-scale civil war, with rebel brigades.
The government says the rebels are terrorists backed by foreign powers that seek to destroy the country. It does not give death tolls, although anti-regime activists say more than 40,000 have been killed.
On Friday, Putin said that his country does not seek to preserve Assad’s rule but wants a “democratic regime in Syria based on the expression of people’s will” — an outcome he said can only come through negotiations.
“We aren’t a defender of the current Syrian leadership,” Putin told European leaders in Brussels.
Throughout the conflict, Russia has been one of Assad’s greatest backers, selling him arms and, along with China, protecting Syria from censure by the U.N. Security Council.
But Russian officials have recently distanced themselves from Assad’s regime, suggesting they are resigned to his potential ouster.
Also Friday, NATO’s top official said Syria has continued to target rebel areas with Scud-type missiles.
Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmusen called the attacks “acts of a desperate regime approaching collapse.”
U.S. and NATO officials first reported Syria’s use of Scud missiles one week ago, prompting a swift denial from the Syrian government.
One of the Scuds apparently hit the rebel town of Marea, near Aleppo.
An activist in the town who goes by the name Abu al-Hassan said Friday the missile fell in a field, causing no casualties.
Videos purporting to show the impact site showed a crater some 6 yards deep in a green field. They appeared genuine and corresponded with other reporting on the incident.
Information for this article was contributed by Bassem Mroue and Vladimir Isachenkov of The Associated Press.
Front Section, Pages 7 on 12/22/2012