Syrian military aircraft have bombed the north-western town of Jisr al-Shughour today, a day after insurgents seized control of it as part of a broader offensive that has left government forces in the area reeling.

Elite Syrian troops backed by helicopters and tanks have regained control of a town where police and soldiers joined forces with the protesters they were ordered to shoot – a decisive assault from a government prepared for an all-out battle to keep power.

ELITE Syrian troops backed by helicopters and tanks yesterday regained control of a town where police and soldiers had joined forces with the protesters they were ordered to shoot.