PHOTO: Rebels moving to the east of Basanqul in southern Idlib Province on Friday

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Analysis: How Victories Mean Growing Challenges for The Rebellion


UPDATE 1020 GMT: Rebels have captured Ain Hamra. They reportedly have taken the Tel Sheikh Khattab mount to the west, overlooking the M4 highway (see map).

Rebels are now within 3 km (2 miles) from the key town of Frikka.


UPDATE 0930 GMT: Rebels are continuing their rapid advance along the Idlib-Hama corridor.

Having claimed 10 villages including Mahambel since dawn, the fighters are close to Ain Hamra, taking a checkpoint just to the east.

Some local sources are saying that the rebels may even be on the verge of capturing the key town of Frikka, effectively linking their frontline to the south of Idlib city and Ariha with the frontline to the south of Jisr al-Shughour.


ORIGINAL ENTRY: Syria’s rebels are advancing rapidly across the corridor in Idlib and Hama Provinces on Friday, capturing regime positions along a national highway.

The rebels have seized parts of the M4 highway, which links southern Idlib and northern Hama Provinces with Latakia Province on the Mediterranean coast, as they took the cities of Idlib and Jisr al-Shughour this spring.

On Friday, they finally overran the al-Qiyasat barrier after a month of pressure and advanced further west, taking the important high point of Sheikh Ali and the town of Basanqul.

This morning the offensive has reached Mahambel:

If rebels continue, they could join up their forces along the highway all the way from south of Ariha to south of Jisr al-Shughour. That would bolster the possibilities of a further move down the al-Ghab Plain into Hama Province — rebels already control about one-third of the area. Advances towards Latakia or Aleppo city could also be pursued.

The storming of the barrier at al-Qiyasat:

Rebels inside the al-Qiyasat regime camp:

Fighters advancing east of Basanqul:

Capture of regime weapons and vehicles in Basanqul:

Capture of Sanqara, north of the M4 highway:

Blowing up a tank at Mahambel:

Rebels fire on Syrian troops fleeing from Mahmpel:

The Islamic Front’s image of the regime retreat along the M4 highway:

IDLIB-HAMA REGIME RETREAT

Regime supporters tried to hold up spirits on Friday with the claim of the capture by elite forces of Zayzoun village, south of Jisr al-Shughour near the Zayzoun Dam. However, even this appears to be endangered by today’s rebel successes.

State news agency SANA wrote on Saturday, “An army unit evacuated a number of military posts in the vicinity of Mhanbel town…and re-positioned in new posts and lines more appropriate for carrying out combat missions in the area.”


Reports: US Warplanes Bomb Islamic State Near Rebel Frontlines in Aleppo Province

Media activists with rebel units are claiming that US warplanes bombed nearby Islamic State positions in northern Aleppo Province on Saturday night.

The strikes were reportedly on militants in Sawran, the center of fighting since the Islamic State launched an offensive two weeks ago.

The activists say that they are certain the attacks were not carried out by regime forces:

EA cannot yet confirm the claims from local sources.

Rebels had criticized the Americans, who have repeatedly attacked the Islamic State in and near Kurdish areas, for not striking the militants during their offensive. Meanwhile, the Syrian air force has been attacking rebel-held towns such as Mare’ and Tel Rifaat.


Video: Rebel Gains in Latakia Province in West

As well as advancing in the Idlib-Hama corridor, rebels have gained territory in Latakia Province in western Syria — a fighter describes the battlefield from near the summit of Nabi Younis mountain (see map):

The mountain is about 3 km (2 miles) from a major concentration of Syrian forces in Joureen. Iran’s commander of the elite Qods Force, General Qassem Soleimani, reportedly was in Joureen last week to discuss operations — possibly including the entry of thousands of Iranian, Afghan, and Iraqi personnel — to counter the rebel offensives.


Video: Rebels Fighting Islamic State in Northern Aleppo Province

First-person footage of rebels fighting the Islamic State in northern Aleppo Province:

Rebels have been pushing back a two-week Islamic State offensive along a 25-km (16-mile) front from the Turkish border to north and northeast of Aleppo city. Fighting has been centered on the town of Sawran.

See Syria Daily, June 2: Assad’s Bombs Aid Islamic State Offensive in Aleppo Province