Rebels seize Syria-Jordan border

Rebels backed by Syria's al-Qaeda affiliate seized control Wednesday of the last border crossing with Jordan that had been under government control, dealing a blow to President Bashar al-Assad.

The fighting prompted Jordan to temporarily shut its border after mortar rounds landed in Jordanian territory, officials who requested anonymity told Reuters.

"Armed groups, joined today by al-Qaeda affiliate al-Nusra Front, took over the Nasib border point from regime soldiers" on the Syrian side of the frontier, said Rami Abdel Rahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

A coalition of rebel groups had launched the offensive Tuesday, and al-Nusra joined them late Wednesday. 

A pro-government security source said the "Syrian army withdrew from the Nasib border crossing".

The roll-back means that opposition forces are in near total control of the border area in the Daraa province for the first time since the 2011 uprising against Assad began, Syrian sources with links to the opposition told Middle East Eye.

Shortly afterward the government troops withdrew, helicopters reportedly began circling the area where they dropped barrel bombs, Rahman said.

There was no immediate information on any casualties. 

The opposition drive comes a week after rebel forces seized the strategically key town of Bosra al-Sham after days of heavy fighting.