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Middle East

Syrian troops capture 2 villages in last rebel stronghold

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian army soldiers flash the victory sign as they stand on their tank in the village of Kfar Nabuda, in the countryside of the Hama province on Saturday, May 11, 2019. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said government forces are now in control of nine villages forming an L shape at the far southern corner of the rebel stronghold. The villages include the strategic village of Kfar Nabuda and the elevated Qalaat Madiq, giving the government troops an advantage over the insurgents. (SANA via AP)

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    In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian army soldiers prepare to launch a mortar towards insurgents in the village of Kfar Nabuda, in the countryside of Hama province on Saturday, May 11, 2019. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said government forces are now in control of nine villages forming an L shape at the far southern corner of the rebel stronghold. The villages include the strategic village of Kfar Nabuda and the elevated Qalaat Madiq, giving the government troops an advantage over the insurgents. (SANA via AP)

BEIRUT – Syrian pro-government media say their troops have captured two villages and a nearby hill in the last rebel stronghold in the country's northwest — Idlib province.

The development is part of the latest push by government forces against the enclave that was launched last month. So far, dozens have been killed and more than 150,000 have been displaced.

The pro-government Syrian Central Military Media said government forces captured the villages of Hawash and Jabrieh and Hawash hill on the southern edges of Idlib on Monday.

The area is near the strategic village of Kfar Nabuda that Syrian troops entered last week. Opposition activists reported government airstrikes and shelling of different areas in Idlib.

Much of Idlib is controlled by the al-Qaida-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham insurgent group.