Syrian rebels press on in airport battle

Syrian rebels fighting to topple President Bashar Assad declared Damascus International Airport a “legitimate target” today in a bid to cut off regime supplies, as clashes between government troops and rebels forced the closure of the airport road for the second time this week.

Fighting around the Syrian capital and the airport has intensified in recent days as rebels press a battle they hope will lead to the collapse of Mr Assad’s regime after 20 months of conflict.