Syrian Forces Take Control Of Rebel City
The Syrian army took full control of the rebel city of Idleb, in the north-west of the country, following an assault that lasted four days and drove the insurgents to retreat, said Wednesday an activist. Since Tuesday night, fire fights were reported between government forces and the Free Syrian Army. The troops carried out house to house searches, said Noureddine al-Abdo, a local activist in the city.
The regime confirmed it had taken control on the rebel city. “Three days after the start of a large-scale operation in the city of Idleb (…) it was completed in record time,” said the private daily Al-Watan , which is close to the government. “The army units were conducting raids which have killed and captured dozens of armed men and wanted persons,” it added.
Meanwhile, the rebels carried out attacks against the forces of the regime. In the province of Idleb 10 soldiers were killed in a rebel attack in the town of al-Maarret Noomane against. In the province of Deraa (south), the cradle of the revolt, 12 members of the security services were killed in an ambush as they were heading for Dael to make arrests, according to activists.
At least 48 people died in violence yesterday across Syria, reported the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.