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An alliance of Syrian Islamist rebels including Al-Qaeda's Nusra Front have overrun 17 defense posts around Idlib in an offensive to take the city from the army and allied militia, an activist group said Thursday, Reuters reported.

Idlib, which is close to the main strategic highway linking Damascus to Aleppo, is the capital of a northwestern province of the same name. The army controls the city of at least 100,000 people and rebels are stationed on the outskirts.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks the violence from Britain, said the Nusra Front, the powerful Ahrar al-Sham movement and the hardline Jund al-Aqsa were advancing, taking a total of 17 army posts on the outskirts.

It said 11 soldiers and allied militia as well as 17 insurgents were killed Wednesday and violent clashes continued Thursday.

Syria's state news agency said Thursday that government forces had "targeted terrorist gatherings in the surroundings of Idlib city." It said dozens of insurgents were killed and 11 vehicles were destroyed.

State television said the army foiled an attempt by terrorists to enter the city, citing a military source.