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Syrian rebels have reportedly seized the last major army base in north-western Idlib province, in a fresh setback for President Bashar al-Assad, the BBC reports.

State forces withdrew from the Mastouma base after days of fighting, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The assault on Idlib is run by a coalition of Islamist rebels, including the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front.

Meanwhile Islamic State (IS) militants are again reported to be threatening the town of Palmyra.

Residents reported that IS militants had moved into the town's northern quarters, after being driven out late last week.

Syrian state media implicitly acknowledged the loss of the Mastouma base, saying its forces had heavily pounded "terrorist formations" which had infiltrated the camp.

Government forces have headed to Ariha, one of the few towns they still hold in the province, according the British-based Observatory.