Syrian opposition withdraws from area in NW after government advance: Observatory

Syrian opposition fighters withdrew from a town in southern Idlib province and from their last remaining territory in neighbouring Hama province after government troops advances in the area, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Syrian government forces, backed by Russia, had advanced into the town of Khan Sheikhoun in southern Idlib late on Monday. The town had been in opposition hands since 2014. The opposition's territorial foothold in neighbouring Hama province dates back to the earliest days of the eight-year-long conflict.