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On Sunday morning the Syrian Army officially announced its recapture of the mainly-Armenian populated town of Kessab and said that it had “restored stability and security” in that town, which was attacked by al Qaeda-linked terrorists who stormed the area from Turkey, reported Reuters, according to Asbarez. 

The Army also said that engineering teams were removing mines and explosives planted by “terrorist gangs,” and that entry into the city was restricted until that operation was completed.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said clashes in the area continued from around midnight on Saturday night, but did not give casualty figures

The withdrawal of most rebel forces from the village – including some linked to al-Qaida – is another blow to an opposition that has been undermined by recent gains by Assad’s forces and by infighting, reported Reuters.

The al Qaeda-affiliated militants began abandoning Kessab on Saturday, and by the evening, the Aleppo-based Gandzasar newspaper reported that Syrian army forces had advanced onto the city square and seized control of the strategic town.