1st LD: Syrian army captures key rebel stronghold in Latakia province

The Syrian forces on Sunday captured the strategic town of Rabiah, a main rebel stronghold in the countryside of the coastal province of Latakia, state news agency SANA reported.

Rabiah is a key stronghold of the jihadist groups in the northern countryside of Latakia. The recapture of the town is the second hard blow for the rebels, just a week after the army forces captured the town of Salma.

Both Salma and Rabiah were considered the two main rebel bastions north of Latakia, close to the Turkey area.

The fresh progress in Rabiah, located in the Turkmen Mountain where Tureky-backed rebels are operating, reflects the resolve of the Syrian troops to hit hard at rebel bastions in northern Syria.

A military source told Xinhua on Sunday that the military units entered Rabiah from its western outskirt, namely from the town of Rawda. The source added that the army is now in the central part of Rabiah.

The military units will continue to advance to capture the town of Kinsabah, after which it will reach the western countryside of the northwestern province of Idlib, another bastion of the al-Faterh Army rebels, or the Conquer Army, which constitutes of several jihadi groups such as al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front. Endit