Syrian opposition seizes last regime outpost in Jisr al-Shughour

Syrian opposition forces seized control of the National Hospital in the city of Jisr al-Shughur in the Idlib governorate on Friday as the regime forces that were in the hospital broke out and withdrew south.

Opposition fighters attacked the retreating regime forces, inflicting heavy losses in their ranks, according to opposition sources. The opposition forces also thwarted attempts by pro-regime units from providing support for the retreating columns near the town of Kfeir.

Yaman Abdul-Alim, from the media liaison office of the Ahrar al-Sham ("Free Men of the Levant") group, part of Jaysh al-Fateh ("Army of Conquest"), the coalition of leading the opposition war effort in the area, told al-Araby al-Jadeed: "This morning, opposition forces were able to clear the National Hospital, where regime forces have been holed up since the start of the month."

He added: "The regime forces that were besieged in the hospital retreated on foot in the direction of the south through open farmland, making it easier for the opposition forces to attack."

Abdul-Alim pointed out that a large force of the Syrian regime backed by the Afghan militia known as the Army of the Fatimids was still trying to advance from the south to rescue the retreating forces. Violent clashes were taking place between opposition and regime forces, while the Syrian regime air force has carried out nearly 30 air strikes since the morning in the area, according to the opposition source.

With the fall of Jisr al-Shughur hospital, the opposition now controls the entire city. The latest gain by the opposition forces follows their Tuesday capture of the Mastouma military base and the nearby village of Nahliya, in addition to a number of military checkpoints near the town of Ariha.

The entire Idlib province with the exception of Ariha and a few villages along the road to al-Ghab Plain is now also in opposition hands. Opposition forces are expected to launch an attack to capture Ariha and these villages shortly.

This is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.