{"id":258680,"date":"2016-10-16T09:58:15","date_gmt":"2016-10-16T09:58:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=258680"},"modified":"2016-10-16T09:58:15","modified_gmt":"2016-10-16T09:58:15","slug":"syria-conflict-rebels-capture-is-stronghold-of-dabiq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2016\/10\/syria-conflict-rebels-capture-is-stronghold-of-dabiq\/","title":{"rendered":"Syria conflict: Rebels ‘capture’ IS stronghold of Dabiq"},"content":{"rendered":"
Turkish-backed rebels have captured the symbolically important Syrian town of Dabiq from the Islamic State group, rebel commanders and monitors say.<\/p>\n
The rebels took Dabiq after “IS members withdrew”, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.<\/p>\n
The small northern town holds great value for IS because of a prophecy of an apocalyptic battle, and features heavily in its propaganda.<\/p>\n
The advance on Dabiq is part of a wider offensive by Syrian rebel groups.<\/p>\n
Ahmed Osman, the commander of the Sultan Murad rebel group, told Reuters news agency on Sunday morning that the group had also recaptured the neighbouring village of Soran.<\/p>\n
Dabiq is just 10km (6 miles) from the border with Turkey.<\/p>\n
In August, Turkey launched an offensive to clear the border region of militants.<\/p>\n