Ammon News - By Taylor Luck/ Jordan Times

AMMAN — The number of Syrians fleeing to Jordan rose on Monday as Syrian rebel forces staged a fresh counteroffensive across southern Syria.

The Jordan Armed Forces said around 700 Syrians crossed into Jordan early Monday, up from 400 on Sunday and the single largest daily influx in over a week.

Rebel officials said Free Syrian Army (FSA) forces staged a fresh military offensive in the border towns of Al Quneitrah, Sahem Al Golan and Sheikh Al Maskin late Sunday in a bid to regain control of several towns and villages retaken by Damascus over the past month.

“This week we have begun a new campaign to take back all liberated towns and villages,” said Abu Mohammad Al Hourani, an FSA commander whose battalion is currently based on the outskirts of Sheikh Al Maskin.

“We will not stop until we have rid all of southern Syria of regime and Hizbollah fighters.”

The FSA’s campaign follows a month that saw a series of rebel losses at the hands of regime and Hizbollah forces, with Damascus retaking over 30 towns and villages formerly under opposition control.

Jordan has opened its borders to over 560,000 Syrians since the onset of the conflict in March 2011, and UN officials expect the number to surpass 1.3 million by the end of the year.