Syrian military bomb disputed town

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.

The opposition campaign, spearheaded by the al-Qaida-affiliated Nusra Front and Islamic rebel factions, has captured the two largest urban centres in Idlib province in the space of a month. President Bashar Assad’s troops have been unable to take back any of the ground lost, despite attempts to mount a counter-offensive.