Updated

Syrian activists say government forces have regained control of a major town in the coastal province of Latakia two weeks after losing it to insurgents.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said troops regained control of Kinsabba on Saturday after an offensive under the cover of Russian airstrikes.

Syrian journalist Eyad al-Hosain, who is embedded with the troops, said government forces now control of Kinsabba and its hills. He wrote on his Facebook page that the battle lasted 12 hours.

Syrian government forces first captured Kinsabba in February after it was held by rebels for weeks.

Insurgents, including members of al-Qaida's branch in Syria, regained control of the town in July 1.

Latakia province is a stronghold of President Bashar Assad.