Northern Syria: Rebels control much of countryside

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Nearly two years into the civil war in Syria, 41,000 people have been killed. Although the rebels have more control now, they fear chemical warfare. NBC's Richard Engel reports.By NBC News staff and wire reportsNORTHERN SYRIA -- Syrian rebels who were in control of swathes of the countryside north of the key city of Aleppo told NBC News on Sunday they were besieging a large base full of government soldiers.

Rebels told NBC News producer Ghazi Balkiz that a large government base nearby was under attack. "We can hear bombs going off right now," he said.  

Follow @NBCNewsWorld  "In this area, the rebels control the countryside and open roads, and the Syrian army only controls the bases and the skies," he said on the telephone from an area north of the country's commercial capital.  "In a 20-mile radius there are three bases, and the rest is controlled by rebels."

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