Ahrar al-Sham’s deputy commander, Yousef Quteb (Abu Jameel), has been killed in the ongoing rebel offensive on the government-held city of Idleb, northwestern Syria, the Islamic movement’s general commander Abu Jaber said on Wednesday.
Armed opposition factions announced the campaign to liberate Idleb in a message posted online on Tuesday, telling residents that rebels "are at the walls of Idleb" and "have decided to liberate this good town". The message also requested locals to remain indoors in the coming days.
Muayad Zurayk, an activist based in Idleb province, told Reuters that the offensive began Tuesday morning and was being led by several factions including Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate, the Nusra Front, as well as the ultraconservative Ahrar al-Sham and Jund al-Aqsa groups.
Opposition fighters have controlled the countryside and towns across the province of Idleb since 2012, but regime forces have managed to maintain their grip on the city.
