DAMASCUS, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army on Wednesday stormed and captured the key city of Saraqeb, the latest in a string of victories the army scored in the northwestern provine of Idlib, a war monitor reported.

The Syrian army stormed the city following the withdrawal of the rebel groups, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The army is combing through the city, the Britain-based monitor added.

The victory comes days after the Syrian forces captured the city of Maarat al-Numan in the southern countryside of Idlib, which was the first big achievement toward securing the main Damascus-Aleppo highway.

For weeks, the Syrian army has been fighting the rebels in the countryside of Idlib and Aleppo to secure the main highway linking Hama Province in central Syria with Aleppo.

This highway connects with the Damascus-Hama highway.