Syrian rebels capture major air base

Syrian rebels have captured a major air base in the north of the country after months of fighting, activist groups said today.

The Aleppo Media Centre said rebels took Mannagh helicopter base before dawn. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the base fell nearly 24 hours after rebels launched an all-out offensive against it.

Rebels have been trying since last year to capture Mannagh, which is near the Turkish border in Aleppo province, but faced strong resistance from troops defending it.

The capture of the base is a blow to President Bashar Assad’s forces because it deprives them of one of their main outposts in the contested province.

The Observatory said there were casualties on both sides. It added that rebels took prisoner a number of government troops.