Last weekend, our troops patrolled this rebel "stronghold" without a shot being fired.

He knew that the luckless river town was no rebel stronghold.

In each of the last few weeks the Russian Army has chosen a village they say is a rebel stronghold.

It was the last rebel stronghold to hold out against the English.

It appears that the army has failed to cut off escape routes from rebel strongholds.

The basement was the heart of the rebel stronghold - a heart which had failed.

The next day the government with superior forces (heavy artillery having been moved in by rail) was able to attack the rebel stronghold.

Several residents of areas near rebel strongholds said they would like to leave.

And attacks against rebel strongholds within Turkey left scores dead late last month.

The army has captured more than 10 towns in the last two months, including most of the major rebel strongholds.