This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/02/world/middleeast/syria-isis-advances-in-hama-and-damascus.html

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
ISIS Said to Step Up Offensive in Syria ISIS Said to Step Up Offensive in Syria
(34 minutes later)
BEIRUT, Lebanon — Islamic State militants have carried out offensives on several fronts in recent days, gaining territory and killing dozens of civilians in the central Syrian province of Hama, residents there said, and advancing on Wednesday into the chaotic Yarmouk district on the southern edge of Damascus. BEIRUT, Lebanon — Islamic State militants have carried out offensives on multiple fronts in recent days, gaining territory and killing dozens of civilians in the central Syrian province of Hama, residents there said, and advancing on Wednesday into the chaotic Yarmouk district on the southern edge of Damascus.
The advances appeared to be intended, in part, to reassert the extremist group’s power, just days after its rival, the Nusra Front, seized the northern city of Idlib, the second provincial capital to fall completely out of government control in Syria’s four-year conflict. The advances appeared to be intended, in part, to reassert the extremist group’s power, just days after its rival, the Nusra Front, along with a coalition of other insurgent groups, seized the northern city of Idlib, the second provincial capital to fall completely out of government control in Syria’s four-year conflict.
The leader of Nusra, a branch of Al Qaeda, issued an audio statement on Wednesday declaring that his group would not seek to monopolize power in Idlib. The leader, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, called for a consultative council to rule the city with representatives from all factions of the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad. He also called for the application of Islamic law. The leader of Nusra, a branch of Al Qaeda, posted an audio statement on social networks on Wednesday declaring that his group would not seek to monopolize power in Idlib. The leader, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, called for a consultative council to rule the city with representatives from all factions of the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad. He also called for the establishment of an Islamic law court “to solve the people’s problems.”
Also asserting themselves on Wednesday were insurgents in southern Syria, who were said to be attacking government forces at the only functioning border crossing into Jordan, forcing Jordanian authorities to close it.Also asserting themselves on Wednesday were insurgents in southern Syria, who were said to be attacking government forces at the only functioning border crossing into Jordan, forcing Jordanian authorities to close it.