Syrian troops attack northwestern town recently captured by Muslim militants

BEIRUT – Syria's state media is reporting that government forces are attacking Muslim militants on the outskirts of the northwestern town of Jisr al-Shughour.

State TV said says government forces have closed all roads leading to the town, which was captured by Muslim militants late last month.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Syrian air force conducted 22 airstrikes on Sunday alone — mostly near the national hospital south of town where government troops are entrenched and under siege.

President Bashar Assad vowed on Wednesday that "God willing, the army will soon reach those heroes besieged in Jisr al-Shughour hospital."

Jisr al-Shughour is west of the city of Idlib, the provincial capital, which fell to militants in late March.