Civil War In Syria News Updates -- April 30, 2015

Rebel fighters inspect a site damaged by what activists said was shelling by warplanes loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Jisr al-Shughour town, after the rebels took control of the area, April 26, 2015. (Reuters/Khalil Ashawi)

Newsweek/Reuters: CIA-Backed Rebels Fight Alongside al-Qaeda Wing in Syria

REYHANLI, Turkey (Reuters) - Hardline Islamists fighting side-by-side with groups backed by the United States have made gains in northern Syria in recent weeks while showing rare unity, which some fear may be short-lived.

An Islamist alliance calling itself Army of Fatah, a reference to the conquests that spread Islam across the Middle East from the seventh century, has seized northwestern towns including the provincial capital Idlib from government forces.

The alliance, which includes al-Qaeda's wing in Syria, known as the Nusra Front, and another hardline militant group, the Ahrar al-Sham movement, is edging closer to the coastal province of Latakia, President Bashar al-Assad's stronghold.

Civil War In Syria News Updates -- April 30, 2015

U.S. allies in Middle East ramping up support for rebel forces in Syria -- Washington post
Shared battlefield goals trump ideology among Syria rebels - for now -- Reuters
In Syria, Support for Rebel Unity Carries Risks -- Stratfor
With string of quick victories, Syrian insurgents expose Assad's fundamental weaknesses -- AP
Regime bombing kills 23 in north Syria: monitor -- Al Arabiya/AFP
Damning new accusations against Assad regime -- CBS/AP
Syrian Government Launches Fresh Chemical Attack In Idlib: Activists -- IBTimes
Activists Report Another Chemical Weapons Attack By Regime Forces In Syria -- AP
Islamist fighters seize southern Syria crossing: monitor -- Reuters
Syria accuses Turkey of ‘direct aggression’ alongside militants -- Al Arabiya/Reuters
‘Direct aggression’: Syria accuses Turkey of helping militants -- RT
Saudi Arabia is helping al-Qaeda invade Syria -- Middle East Monitor