This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-29796134

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Syria rebels infiltrate govt buildings in Idlib Syria conflict: Nusra Front rebels attack Idlib
(about 1 hour later)
Al-Qaeda affiliated militants and other Syrian rebel groups launched a new attack on the government-held town of Idlib on Monday. Al-Qaeda-affiliated militants and other Syrian rebel groups have attacked the government-held city of Idlib, briefly seizing several government buildings.
The Nusra Front said its fighters killed dozens of government soldiers and infiltrated several government buildings before being pushed back. The Nusra Front said its fighters killed dozens of government soldiers before being pushed back.
The Syrian government has held control of Idlib since 2012 when it was briefly taken over by rebel groups. The Syrian government has maintained control of Idlib, in the country's north-west, since it was briefly taken over by rebel groups in 2012.
The Syrian war is in its fourth year and more than 200,000 people have died. Syria's civil war, in its fourth year, has claimed more than 200,000 lives.
In other developments, a video believed to have been produced by Islamic State (IS) militants purports to show the abducted British journalist John Cantlie in the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobane.In other developments, a video believed to have been produced by Islamic State (IS) militants purports to show the abducted British journalist John Cantlie in the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobane.
Mr Cantlie, who has been held captive for two years, is seen narrating the video in a mock-news report style. In the video, Mr Cantlie refers to events from the last fortnight, including a US air drop of weapons and ammunition intended for Kurdish fighters in Kobane.
In the video, Mr Cantlie refers to events which have taken place in the last two weeks such as the recent air drop of weapons and ammunition by US jets intended for Kurdish fighters. Barrel bombs
The BBC's Jim Muir, who is in Beirut, says that while the world has been distracted by the American air strikes on the more extreme IS militants at Kobane, the Nusra Front and its allies have been making slow advances in the north-west and south of the country. The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says the Nusra Front and its allies have been making slow advances in the north-west and south of Syria, while global attention has been focused on the US air campaign against Islamic State (IS).
Monday's attack on Idlib began at dawn with rebel fighters attacking the town from all sides, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based group that gathers reports from a network of activists in Syria.
Much of Idlib province is under rebel control but the town that shares its name has remained in the hands of forces loyal to the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
The SOHR says the Syrian air force has carried out 600 air strikes in the past week, including barrel bombs dropped from helicopters. About 180 civilians have died in the attacks, the group says.
President Assad's government has been battling against an armed and increasingly fragmented uprising. Rebel groups such as the Nusra Front and Islamic State (IS) have also been fighting between themselves.