DHAKA: Syrian rebels, including al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria, have captured the northwestern city of Idlib for the first time from forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.

The activists and the rebels have said this, reports the Aljazeera.

The ‘Fattah Army’ coalition - including the al-Nusra Front, Jund al-Aqsa, Jaish al-Sunna, Liwa al-Haqq, Ajnad al-Sham, and Faynad al-Sham - seized Idlib city on Saturday after more than five days of fierce fighting.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict through a network of activists on the ground, said the rebels had taken control of the entire city after collapsing government forces withdrew.

“Al-Nusra Front and its allies have captured all of Idlib,” the Britain-based watchdog said, adding that at least 130 people were killed in the offensive.

BDST: 0912 HRS, MAR 29, 2015