BEIRUT: A rebel alliance including Al-Qaeda's Al-Nusra Front seized more territory in northwestern Syria overnight, strengthening its position on the borders of two key largely regime-controlled provinces, activists said Saturday.
The Army of Conquest rebel alliance had made a series of sweeping gains in Idlib province, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based activist group
Rebels seized a major army position, the town of Muhambel, and several villages in the area between Jisr al-Shughur and Ariha, two key towns already under opposition control.
The 24 hours of fighting left 13 opposition fighters dead along with 32 regime forces, the Observatory said.