‘Grave Concern’ Over Syrian Town

International aid organizations are calling for the Syrian town of Qusayr to be evacuated, as the strategic city—which normally has an estimated population of 30,000—has remained the ground zero of fighting in the country’s bloody civil war. At the United Nations, Britain said it had “grave concerns” for the town, although Russia blocked the draft resolution from moving forward. President Bashar al-Assad’s forces began an all-out assault two weeks ago on the town, which borders Lebanon. An estimated 1,700 fighters from Lebanon’s Hezbollah have reportedly joined up with his forces. Activists say that the regime forces have blocked all the exits from the city to trap the rebels—which has also trapped the civilians.