The Army of Fatah in the northern province of Idleb captured a strategic hill near Jisr al-Shughour on Sunday, in a move placing rebels on track to overrun President Bashar al-Assad's hometown in the coastal region.
The alliance of Islamist groups seized control of Tal Khattab, a hill situated between the towns of Ariha and Jisr al-Shughour.
Rebel news feeds on Twitter claimed Syrian regime forces had failed to defend the hill the overlooking the Alawite villages.