Fatah Army regains villages from Army near Sahl al-Ghab, fears rise amid supporters

 In less than one week, key Islamist rebel group, the Fatah Army, was able to regain villages and hills from Syrian regime army in northern province of Idlib, a move has triggered panic amid Bashar al-Assad's supporters in the neighboring Sahl al-Ghab plain and pushed tens of Alawite families to fled their villages.

Last Saturday, the regime army and allied militia NDF had regained control over several northwestern villages from rebels in Sahl al-Ghab which is crucial for defending coastal areas that Assad holds. But very soon its victories returned to humiliating defeats.

On Tuesday, the alliance of Islamist groups took control of Tel Hekmah, Tel A'awar and Marj al-Zuhour near south of Jisr al-Shughour town to the northeast of Sahl al-Ghab, as well rebels have recaptured Zaizoun thermal station in the plain, activists said.

The predominantly Alawite plain is considered as a main manpower supply for Assad army. Activists who praised the advances on social media say rebels' progress can not be stoppable.

The Army of Conquest, or Fatah Army, has made advances against the military in several parts of Syria in recent months, including capturing most of Idlib province.

Last July witnessed for the first time ever rise in death toll of Assad forces to surpass civilians victims. The Syrian Network for Human Rights and the Syrian Revolution Coordinators Union have documented killing of 1235 soldiers and militants, and 966 civilians.

The Syrian army, one of the region's largest, has been over stretched by a four-year long insurgency where it is battling on several major fronts Islamist rebels and ultra-hardline jihadist militants who have seized large swathes of territory. Many young men have fled the country or find ways to avoid conscription.

More than 250,000 people have been killed since the uprising against Assad began in March 2011. Four million others have fled abroad to escape the fighting and more than 8 million have been displaced internally, according to UN reports and monitoring groups.