According to The Associated Press, Syrian regime forces have retaken most of the rebel stronghold of Idlib near the Turkish border where military defectors had operated a major base of operations.

The fall of Idlib follows the Syrian Army’s brutal March 1 retaking of Baba Amr, the rebel enclave which was pulverized and assaulted for a month.

The AP also said that Russia today promised to continue selling weapons to Syria, all events that show that the regime of Bashar al-Assad has regained the upper hand in his battle to crush a popular uprising that has convulsed Syria for a year.

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The AP published this video of Saturday's events in Idlib:

The Arab League said yesterday that Syria’s attacks on civilians amounted to crimes against humanity.

According to a recent al-Jazeera report cited by the Middle East Media Research Institute, a pro-Israel organization in Washington, Idlib was also home to a school that had been renamed in opposition to the al-Assad regime.

The school was in Jabal al-Zawiya, part of Idlib. It is now named for the village’s first casualty of the uprising: “The Martyr Isam'il Yahya Al-Moussa School,” according to al-Jazeera.

In the report, school children can be seen marching, calling for al-Assad ‘s ouster: “The people want to change the regime!” they are heard to say.

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"We teach the students to distinguish the militants from the regime's army. We teach them the goals and principles of the revolution, and the meaning of freedom. Of course, we are semi-independent from the Ministry of Education, and we refuse orders to quell demonstrations here,” a teacher is heard to say.

A teacher asks pupils: "Where is the Syrian Arab army? On the Golan Heights? Where is it?"

A pupil replies: "It is in Homs, killing children and destroying their schools."

The report can be seen here: