Militant fighters of al-Nusra Front (Syria’s branch of al-Qaeda) were reportedly engaged in clashes against Syrian regime forces in the countryside of Idlib.The clashes took place in the city of Ariha of Idlib province during the last two days. Pro-Nusra sources reported the death of at least 70 soldiers of the regime’s army during the clashes.
The al-Nusra Front issued a statement, of which ARA News received a copy, saying that a number of jihadists (suicide bombers) were able to infiltrate a regime-held military center in Ariha city, west of Idlib, and carry out “a strategic operation against the Syrian regime forces and Shiite militias there”.
The Front confirmed that its fighters fought fierce clashes with what it called “thugs” who were stationed in a secondary-school building and a health clinic in the city, adding that two of their fighters carried out a “jihadist” operation in the regime-held center.