Syria army ‘takes control’ of Jisr al-Shughur

By Rizwan Khatik - Mon Jun 13, 6:00 am

The Syrian army has taken control of the northern town of Jisr al-Shughour following what state media has described as heavy fighting.

Army units backed by helicopter gunships and tanks have moved into the town of Jisr al-Shughur in northern Syria, state television and witnesses say.

State television said army units fought “armed groups” on Sunday but residents and activists said troops had clashed with mutinous soldiers defending the town alongside residents.

“Army divisions entered Jisr al-Shughur and purged the state hospital of armed groups,” the television said.

“Two members of the armed organisations were killed, large numbers of them arrested, and lethal weapons in their possession were seized.”

A reporter for the Associated Press news agency said the army was in full control of Jisr al-Shughur.

Troops and tanks had laid siege to the town after authorities vowed to retaliate against the reported killings of 120 security personnel last week.

Residents who fled to Turkey told AP that thousands of young men, including soldiers and police who switched sides and joined the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, had armed themselves and planted dynamite at the town entrances.