Syria rebels capture key airbase

[Punch]

Rebels fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have captured a key airbase in Aleppo province, near the Turkish border, activists say.

The pro-opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said rebels took Menagh airport early on Tuesday.

The opposition has been trying to capture the base since last year.

According to BBC, the base lies on a major rebel supply route from Turkey.

Rebels have also recently taken several villages in Latakia province, the heartland of President Assad's minority Alawite sect.

They remain strong in the country's north, despite recent gains by loyalist forces – in the cities of Damascus and Homs, and other areas of Aleppo.

As the battle at Menagh was raging, the government celebrated its own victory in the central city of Homs as the defence minister toured the Khalidiyeh neighbourhood which was recently retaken from rebel control.

Meanwhile, the SOHR said there were reports that army shelling of a market in Aleppo city on Monday night had resulted in the deaths of eight civilians, including three children.

More than 100,000 people have been killed in the 28-month conflict in Syria, with a further 1.7 million Syrians forced to seek shelter in neighbouring countries, according to United Nations estimates.

The Menagh airbase, north of Aleppo, is isolated in rebel-held territory and had been under siege since last December.

Rebels gradually captured most of the sprawling base in recent months, leaving only about 70 loyalist troops pinned down in the command headquarters.

Our correspondent says the final push, carried out by at least nine different rebel groups, began with a suicide bomb attack on the headquarters, reportedly by a Saudi militant.

The Punch