Syrian Forces Begin Artillery Assault on Qusair

Fighting with Hezbollah in the latest attempt to dislodge rebels

BEIRUT (AP)—Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad shelled a strategic western town on Saturday in their heaviest barrage of a week-long battle to dislodge rebels from there, activists said.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 22 people including 18 rebels were killed in the fighting, and dozens wounded.