DAMASCUS, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Intense battles are raging in the northern Syrian province of Idlib between the government forces and an array of rebel groups, a war monitor reported Sunday.
The battles raged after midnight in the southern countryside of Idlib after the Syrian forces launched a counter-offensive against the rebel groups, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The battles were coupled with airstrikes and heavy shelling on the rebels' positions, said the war monitor.
It said 15 rebels and 19 government forces were killed in the fresh wave of battles on Sunday.
The Syrian forces and the rebels have been engaging in battles in the southern countryside of Idlib amid progress made by the government forces in some areas.
Idlib has emerged as the main destination of the rebel groups, which have evacuated several positions across Syria after surrendering to the Syrian army.
That province is now considered as the last major rebel bastion in Syria.
Certain parts of Idlib are included in a de-escalation zones' deal brokered by Russia and Turkey, which backs the rebels.
However, such deals exclude the ultra-radical rebels who are affiliated with the al-Qaida and branded as terrorist groups by the UN.
