BEIRUT — Syrian government forces advanced deeper into the southern province of Daraa on Sunday under the cover of airstrikes, entering new villages amid reports that the U.S. has told rebels not to expect an American intervention to defend them from the army’s offensive.

Syrian government forces have been on the offensive in eastern parts of Daraa province for the past five days in an operation that aims to reach a main border crossing point with Jordan. The push comes two months after government forces regained control of rebel-held eastern suburbs of Damascus that freed thousands of government soldiers for the new battle in Daraa province.

Opposition activists have been reporting for days that President Bashar Assad’s government has sent some of its elite units to the south including the Republican Guards and the Tiger force that is commanded by Brig. General Suheil al-Hassan.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Daraa-based opposition activist Osama Hourani said that the U.S. has informed rebel groups in southern Syria that Washington will not intervene in the operations to defend them against the government offensive that is ongoing under the cover of Russian airstrikes.

Two U.S. officials discounted the claim. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

Denying the rebels support would be a reversal from earlier pronouncements. The U.S. warned last month it would take “firm and appropriate measures” to protect a cease-fire in southern Syria if government forces move against rebels there.

Sen. McCaskill says senator injured her while saving her

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., told constituents over the weekend that she’d suffered a cracked rib after a colleague saved her from choking at a Democratic caucus luncheon, an injury that took that colleague, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., by surprise.

On Friday, as she made the rounds at an NAACP dinner in Missouri, McCaskill said that she would not be hugging people who came up to her, after Manchin accidentally injured her rib.

A spokesman for Manchin said that the accident occurred on Thursday, when Senate Democrats met for lunch. McCaskill began choking, and Manchin ran over to give her the Heimlich maneuver. That dislodged the blockage in McCaskill’s throat, but unbeknownst to Manchin, it left his colleague injured. McCaskill participated in the day’s final votes.

In tearful interview, Barr apologizes for racist tweet

NEW YORK — In an emotional interview, Roseanne Barr says she definitely feels remorse for the racist tweet that prompted ABC to cancel the revival of “Roseanne.”

Barr recorded a podcast interview with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, who on Sunday published an edited transcript and recording of the conversation. In the interview, Barr said that she “never would have wittingly called any black person ... a monkey.”

Barr spoke through tears for much of the interview. She said she was willing to “accept whatever consequences this brings” because she knows she’s “done wrong.” She also lamented that some people don’t accept her explanation blaming the sleep drug Ambien.

ABC on Thursday announced it will air a 10-episode Conner family sitcom this fall without Barr.

Mali group: Community militia attack on village kills dozens

BAMAKO, Mali — A community militia killed 32 civilians in an attack on a village in Mali, then returned shortly after soldiers left and killed four more, the head of the West African nation’s largest ethnic Fulani association said Sunday.

Mali’s government earlier in the day confirmed the first attack and said 16 people were killed, as the Fulani ethnic group faces growing pressure over accusations of links to al-Qaida extremists.

The death tolls differed because many bodies had been buried by the time Malian soldiers responded, Abdoul Aziz Diallo with the Tabital Pulaku association told The Associated Press.

The original attack occurred Saturday when militia members killed herders outside Koumaga before “starting to fire on the villagers,” Diallo said.

Report: 86 killed as Nigeria herders, farmers clash

LAGOS, Nigeria — Nigeria’s presidency late Sunday announced “deeply unfortunate killings across a number of communities” in central Plateau State as one report cited police as saying 86 people were dead in clashes between mostly Muslim herders and Christian farmers.

President Muhammadu Buhari appealed for calm as the military and police tried to end the bloodshed, and said “no efforts will be spared” to find the attackers and prevent reprisals.

The government did not announce a death toll. But the independent Channels Television cited a Plateau State police spokesman as saying 86 people had been killed, with at least 50 houses destroyed, in violence that appeared to have started overnight.

Deadly clashes between herders and farmers in central Nigeria are a growing security concern in Africa’s most populous country.

Oil train derails, spills 230K gallons in floodwaters

DOON, Iowa — An estimated 230,000 gallons of crude oil spilled into floodwaters in the northwestern corner of Iowa following a train derailment, a railroad official said Saturday.

BNSF spokesman Andy Williams said 14 of 32 oil tanker cars just south of Doon in Lyon County leaked oil into surrounding floodwaters from the swollen Little Rock River. Williams had earlier said 33 oil cars had derailed.

Nearly half the spill, an estimated 100,000 gallons, had been contained with booms near the derailment and an additional boom placed approximately 5 miles downstream, Williams said. Skimmers and vacuum trucks were being used to remove the oil. Crews will use equipment to separate the oil from the water.

It wasn’t immediately clear Sunday how long the effort would take.

Saudi Arabia’s state media says the kingdom’s air defenses intercepted a ballistic missile fired over Riyadh from Yemen, where Saudi-led coalition forces are at war. Residents in the capital reported on social media Sunday hearing the sound of loud explosions overhead. No casualties were immediately reported.

A wind-driven fire racing across dry brush in a largely rural area of Northern California destroyed 12 buildings and threatened hundreds of others. State fire officials said the Pawnee Fire broke out near the community of Clearlake Oaks on Saturday evening and was burning out of control Sunday.