Syria rebels seize major air base from government loyalists: state news

Published September 9th, 2015 - 09:53 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

Syrian government loyalists have withdrawn from a major air base in northwestern Syria after being besieged for more than two years by Islamist-led insurgents, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

Abu al-Duhur military airport, located in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib, was one of the last remaining government holdouts in the region. According to a group monitoring the conflict, the Syrian military had been completely driven out of the province following the fall of the base.

Rebel sources speaking to Reuters said al-Qaeda affiliate al-Nusra Front had played a leading role in the final assault on the base. Nusra is part of an opposition coaltion known as the Army of Conquest, which has taken most of Idlib province.

Kweiris air base, east of Aleppo, is currently under siege by Daesh militants, Reuters reported.

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