DAMASCUS: Syrian troops entered the centre of the rebel stronghold of Qusayr on Sunday, seizing the town's main square and its municipality building, a military source said.

“The Syrian army controls Qusayr's main square in the centre of the city, and the surrounding buildings, including the municipality building,” the source told AFP.

“Our valiant troops have restored security and stability to the Qusayr municipality building and surrounding buildings and are continuing to hunt down terrorists in the town,” state television said.

The Syrian regime uses the term “terrorists” to describe those seeking the departure of President Bashar al-Assad.

His regime has made the recapture of Qusayr, in central Homs province, a key objective, in part because of the town's strategic location between the capital Damascus and the coast.

In recent weeks, regime forces have been bolstered in Qusayr by fighters from Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, a staunch Assad ally.