The World War III Jihad just keeps plowing along.
Al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate Al-Nusra takes key town in Idlib
Jihadists capture Jisr al-Shughur – the last major government-held city in Idlib province
Al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate and its allies seized the last major government-held city in Idlib province on Saturday, in a blow that could expose the regime’s coastal heartland to rebel attack.
The capture of Jisr al-Shughur in the northwestern province comes nearly a month after the same coalition of opposition forces, known as the “Army of Conquest,” overran the provincial capital.
The city’s fall opens up a strategic assault route for the rebels to neighbouring Latakia province on the Mediterranean coast, a bastion of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, analysts said.
“(Al-Qaeda affiliate) Al-Nusra Front and the Islamist brigades now have complete control of Jisr al-Shughur,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
“There are some ongoing battles outside the city, to the south and east.”
The Britain-based monitoring group said the bodies of at least 60 regime loyalists had been seen on the streets of the city, which was overrun by thousands of rebels.
