Syria has called for people from the northern town of Jisr al-Shughour to return after more than 8,000 fled to neighbouring Turkey to escape the government crackdown.

On 12 June, Syrian armed forces moved into the northern town to gain control of the northern town after it claimed that “armed gangs” had killed 120 of its security personnel. The government had warned it would act ‘’with force’’ to restore control in the town.

Syrian officials said that violence in the town had stopped, but that security forces were still ‘’pursuing militants’’ through areas surrounding the town.