International

Jihadists claim to have taken control of the Syrian city of Idlib after days of fierce battles with government forces.

Al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra is leading the coalition of militants that reportedly made large gains today after launching a major offensive against President Bashar al-Assad’s troops earlier this week.

A Twitter account supporting the Jaysh al Fateh alliance claimed victory on Saturday, saying Idlib had been “liberated” by mujahideen and government soldiers were being chased as they fled.

The following video claims to show victorious jihadists in the city and cannot be verified.

It posted pictures claiming to show Islamists waving their black flags in the centre of the city and posing outside official buildings papered with faded pictures of President Assad.

In one video, a rebel fighter is seen tearing a billboard showing Assad in a suit and tie, with the words “Together, we protect it (Syria),” before trampling it with his feet.

Separate footage showed another jihadist outside a building saying: “This is my house, for four years I have not entered it, this is my neighbourhood, this is our country and by God's will we will liberate and inhabit Muslims in it.”

He appeared to be welcomed by several men, some wearing civilian clothes, who hugged him and cried.

Islamist claims of victory have been supported by observers including the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which said jihadists had taken control after four days of fighting