The Nusra Front and other factions continued their advance on Monday morning in the city of Idleb, liberating the Ghassan Abboud checkpoint in a surprise assault on the northern checkpoints of the city.
The Nusra Front and factions of Jund al-Aqsa launched a violent attack using light weapons, mortars, Grad rockets and heavy machine guns on the southern, northern and western sides of the city.
After fierce battles, the rebels took control over Tel Al-Mastumah, seizing two tanks and destroying three others, and cutting off the road between Idleb and Ariha. Meanwhile, a fighter from the Nusra Front carried out a suicide attack near the governorate building of Idleb province, located inside the security zone, before the area was stormed. The rebels managed to kill dozens of soldiers and captured 12 others during the clashes, before retreating from the area.
Field sources also reported that warplanes carried out several raids in the vicinity of the city of Idleb, specifically on the towns of Jidar Bkefloun and Qumenas, in addition to Fillon village, which is considered the entrance toTel Al-Mastumah.
On the other hand, Assad's forces cleared the farms surrounding the city after the withdrawal of the rebels from the region, and imposed a curfew in the ash-Shamali and al-Qusur neighborhoods.
Translated and edited by The Syrian Observer
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