Damascus--The Syrian regime has since March suffered a series of military defeats.
They follow more than a year of successive victories against rebels fighting to overthrow the regime of President Bashar al-Assad since 2011, in a multi-sided conflict involving jihadists.
- Bosra al-Sham -
On March 25, rebels seize full control of the southern town of Bosra al-Sham, pushing pro-regime forces out after four days of heavy fighting.
Bosra is in Syria's southern Daraa province, where the uprising against Assad began in March 2011.
The mixed Sunni-Shiite town lies on the main road between Daraa's provincial capital and the city of Sweida, both of which are under regime control.
- Idlib city -
On March 28, Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate and its allies seize the city of Idlib, only the second provincial capital, after Raqa, to be lost by the regime in more than four years of war.
Calling itself the "Army of Conquest," the rebel coalition is made up of Al-Nusra Front, the official Syrian affiliate of Al-Qaeda, and several Islamist factions.
- Damascus -
On April 1, the Islamic State jihadist group seizes control of most of the Yarmuk Palestinian refugee camp in southern Damascus, the closest the organisation has come to the capital.
- Nasib border post -
On April 1, rebels backed by Syria's Al-Qaeda affiliate seize control of the last border crossing with Jordan that had been under the control of the Damascus regime.
- Jisr al-Shughur -
On April 25, the "Army of Conquest," including Al-Nusra, captures Jisr al-Shughur in Idlib, the last major government-held city in the northwestern province.
- Last military base in Idlib -
On May 19, the "Army of Conquest" consolidates its victories by seizing the regime's largest remaining military base in Idlib province.
The loss of Al-Mastumah base leaves only a few positions in regime hands in Idlib, a region that borders Turkey and neighbours the government stronghold of Latakia province on the Mediterranean coast.
- Palmyra -
On May 20, the Islamic State seizes full control of the ancient city of Palmyra, putting the world heritage site and its priceless artefacts at risk of destruction.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says IS now controls half of all territory in the country.
AFP
