Syrians close on hold-out

SYRIAN troops on Monday captured five small villages and a hill on the edge of the northwestern province of Idlib, the last major rebel stronghold in the country, pro-government media said.

The extremist leader of the rebels in the region released a video calling on every able person to “perform his religious duty” and join the fight.

The pro-government Syrian Central Military Media said government forces captured the villages of Hawash, Jabrieh, Tawbeh, Sheikh Idriss, Jub Suleiman and Hawash hill on the southern edges of Idlib.