Syrian troops advance against insurgents in northwest
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Syrian pro-government media say troops have captured a village and a strategic hill from insurgents in the country's northwest.
The government-controlled Syrian Central Military Media says troops captured the village of al-Bani and the nearby Othman hill in the northern countryside of Hama province.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition-linked war monitor, confirmed that al-Bani was taken and that troops are marching toward the hill.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Observatory says the intense fighting on Monday killed 20 people.
The latest round of fighting has killed dozens and displaced tens of thousands in Idlib and nearby rebel-held areas, who fled to safer regions further north.
It's the heaviest fighting in months, and has raised fears the government may launch a wider offensive to retake the country's last major rebel stronghold.