Qaeda, allies take last regime-held city in Syria's Idlib: monitor

[Bosonic]

Source: AFP

Beirut (AFP) - A rebel coalition led by Al-Qaeda's Syria franchise on Thursday seized Ariha, the last remaining government-held city in the northwestern province of Idlib, a monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that Al-Nusra Front and its allies captured the city after fierce clashes with regime forces, including Hezbollah fighters, who were then seen pulling out.

"Jaish al-Fatah has taken full control of the city of Ariha after a lightning offensive that ended with a heavy pullout of regime forces and their allies Hezbollah from the western side of the city," Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.

Jaish al-Fatah, or Army of Conquest, is the name of the coalition which comprises Al-Nusra Front and its allies -- mostly Islamist rebel groups.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/qaeda-allies-last-regime-held-city-syrias-idlib-184638216.html;_ylt=AwrC1CiWZGdVjxcAqSTQtDMD;_ylu=X3oDMTByOHZyb21tBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. Hah! Take that, Assad! Oh, wait...

[7962]

2. Boy, Assad must really have a top-notch military. nt

[jamzrockz]

3. Seeing as all the moderate rebels

are finished in Syria. Who would really complain if Assad just gassed those animals? Wish we would lift the sanctions on the Syrian military and let their boys defend the heck out of their country against those terrorists.

Also a sanction on Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar wouldn't hurt in their fight.

[Bossy Monkey]

4. They've got franchises now? n/t