Syrian army repels al-Qaeda-linked terrorists in Idlib

Syrian military forces have repelled an offensive by al-Qaeda-linked militants against the northwestern city of Idlib, a UK-based Syrian opposition group says.

The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Monday that the militants of Nusra Front, backed by other groups, attacked the city from all sides.

Syrian forces pushed them back after they had temporarily seized several government buildings including the governor’s office.

Syria’s Al-Ikhbariya TV quoted the provincial police chief as saying “there isn’t one gunman in the city now”.

There are reports that a large number of terrorists were killed during the fighting.

Many parts of Idlib province are under control of militants, but the provincial capital remains in the hands of government forces.

Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since 2011. Western powers and some of their regional allies – especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey – have been supporting the militants operating in Syria.

More than 200,000 people have reportedly died in the Syrian conflict since March 2011.