Beirut: Islamist rebels on Friday overran a hospital in northwest Syria where at least 150 regime forces and dozens of civilians were trapped for nearly a month, a monitor said.
Al-Nusra Front, which is Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, and other factions "have taken complete control of Jisr al-Shughur hospital," said Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The monitoring group's head said "dozens" had managed to flee but others were killed, wounded or taken hostage, without giving exact figures.
Earlier this month, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had pledged to free the besieged forces, saying his "army will arrive soon to these heroes trapped in the Jisr al-Shughur hospital."
The hospital complex is in the southwest of the town in Idlib province that rebels seized on April 25.
At least 150 regime forces and dozens of civilians, including families and government bureaucrats, had since remained trapped in the hospital.
Rebel groups have made a series of major gains in Idlib province, including its capital city of the same name that they seized on March 28.
And on Tuesday, rebels took control of Al-Mastumah, the regime's largest military base in the province.
Al-Nusra Front, which is Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, and other factions "have taken complete control of Jisr al-Shughur hospital," said Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The monitoring group's head said "dozens" had managed to flee but others were killed, wounded or taken hostage, without giving exact figures.
The hospital complex is in the southwest of the town in Idlib province that rebels seized on April 25.
Advertisement
Rebel groups have made a series of major gains in Idlib province, including its capital city of the same name that they seized on March 28.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
US Army Kills Senior ISIS Official In Syria Syrian Man Arrested After Shooting Near US Embassy In Lebanon Capital Israeli Air Attack Hits Syria, Many Killed: Report World's Largest Isolated Tribe Makes Rare Appearance In New Footage Barack Obama Wants Joe Biden To Pull Out Of US Presidential Race: Report Relationship Timeline Of Hardik Pandya, Wife Who "Parted Ways": 5 Facts NEET PG 2024: Test Cities Out For Postgraduate Medical Entrance Exam Mortar Shells From 1971 Indo-Pak War Found Buried In Tripura "Humanitarian Crisis Due To Israel-Hamas Conflict Concerning": India At UN Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.