Syrian jihadists make rapid advance against rebels - monitoring group

BEIRUT (Reuters) - A powerful Syrian jihadist group has made rapid gains against more moderate factions in northern Hama and southern Idlib provinces in recent days, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said on Friday.

Jund al-Aqsa, which has had links with the former al Qaeda branch in Syria, this week captured weapons and bases from groups operating under the Free Syrian Army (FSA) banner, and has detained dozens of rebel fighters, the Observatory said.