Hezbollah fighters ‘invading’ Syria

In an interview with BBC, the military chief of the Syrian rebels, the Free Syrian Army, has accused Hezbollah fighters of "invading" Syria.

Gen Selim Idriss claimed that more than 7,000 fighters of the Lebanese Shia movement were taking part in attacks on the rebel-held town of Qusair.

The French foreign minister has estimated the number at 3,000-4,000 while the US State Department has demanded that Hezbollah withdraw its fighters from Syria immediately.

Gen Idriss made an emotional appeal to Western powers on the BBC World Service's Newshour programme, saying: "We are dying. Please come and help us."

He appealed for more weapons "to defend our citizens".

On Monday, European foreign ministers lifted an arms embargo on Syria, paving the way for individual EU member states to provide weapons to the Syrian rebels. The foreign ministers met in Brussels this week to bridge their differences over the issue, with Britain and France pushing to allow European governments to deliver arms.

Gen Idriss said that more than 50,000 residents were trapped in the town and a "massacre" would occur if it fell. He also said he had received information that Iranian fighters were involved in the offensive.

BBC also reports that Hezbollah fighters have been in Syria for some time now but their numbers appear to have grown rapidly over the last few weeks because of the intense fighting for control over the key town of Qusair.