A soldier stands guard near a poster of Syria's President Bashar al Assad and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during the re-opening of the road between Homs and Hama in Rastan, Syria, June 6, 2018. REUTERS/Omar Sanadiki

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian government re-opened the highway between the cities of Homs and Hama on Wednesday a month after its forces retook a rebel-held pocket that had straddled the road that was closed for almost seven years.

Motorists waved Syrian flags as they drove down the highway whose re-opening marked a victory for President Bashar al-Assad, who in recent months has taken control of all rebel-held pockets around the capital Damascus as well as the enclave along the highway which had been under siege for years.

From holding less than a fifth of Syria in 2015, Assad, with Russian and Iranian help, has recovered control of the largest chunk of the country.

Without the highway, traffic had to take an indirect route to travel the 45 km (30 miles) between Syria’s third and fourth largest pre-war cities.

Residents from Talbiseh, a town just north of Homs controlled by rebels until early May, said they were relieved to see the highway re-open.

“If we wanted to go to Homs before, we had to go half way round the world,” said 42-year-old farmer Hussein al-Muhammad. “Now it will just take us quarter of a hour.”

Another Talbiseh farmer, 61-year-old Hamoud Alloush, said he had survived the years of siege by eating what he could grow. He had already been to Homs and back to sell his produce on Wednesday.

“(The journey) used to take more than two hours,” he said.

Significant areas of Syria still remain beyond Assad’s grasp, including nearly all of the north, much of the east, and a chunk of the southwest, areas where foreign interests will complicate further gains.</s>According to the agency, engineering brigades have completed work at the 47 kilometers long highway (29 miles).

The Homs-Hama highway and a number nearby settlements came under the control of the Syrian government army about a month ago as a result of arrangements on withdrawal of radical groups from the north of Homs province and the south of Hama. The highway between the two provinces, which is located in central Syria, is considered to be a strategically important site from an economic point of view.

After the highway reopening, motorists waved Syrian flags while driving the road, marking the victory of President Bashar al-Assad's forces, which managed in recent months to gain back control of all pockets of militants around the country's capital, as well as along the highway, which has been sieged for years.

READ MORE: Huge Blasts Heard Near Airport in Syria's Hama — Reports (PHOTO, VIDEO)

The Syrian government troops with the support of the Russian Aerospace Forces have made significant progress in liberating key parts of Syria from terrorists since the beginning of this year.

READ MORE: Syrian Army Liberates Dozens of Towns in Central Syria as Militants Surrender</s>WATERFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. - The intersection of Dixie Highway and Andersonville Road in Waterford Township is closed due to a crash, officials said.

A motorcycle was involved in a crash near the intersection, according to authorities.

The intersection is expected to be closed for a couple of hours, police said.

No further details about the crash were provided.</s>CAPE TOWN - The N2 Highway has been closed in the Botrivier area for a second day as a result of a protest.

The situation is tense after two police vehicles were reportedly torched. On Wednesday, municipal property was also damaged.

Provincial traffic chief Kenny Africa said: “Botrivier has been closed in both directions for traffic due to ongoing protest action, the stoning of vehicles and burning of tyres. Two police vehicles were apparently set alight. We will keep the N2 closed until further notice.”

The Theewaterskloof Municipality says the exact reason behind the demonstration is still not clear.</s>Yard sale June 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 5458 Highway 7.
The Syrian government re-opens the Homs–Hama highway after it was closed for seven years.