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| Syria conflict: Jihadist rebels seize key Idlib airbase | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Syrian rebels linked to al-Qaeda have seized control of a key airbase in the north-western province of Idlib after long battle, Syrian state TV says. | |
| Abu al-Duhur airbase was under siege for nearly two years by the militants, who have captured most of the province. | |
| The militants behind the attack are believed to be a coalition of Islamist rebels, including the al-Nusra Front. | |
| Since late March, rebels have seized a number of cities in the province, including Idlib and Jisr al-Shughour. | |
| Government "evacuated their positions and moved to another point", according to Syrian state TV. | |
| The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the insurgents had captured "most" of the base, including the command centre. | |
| The loss of the airbase is the latest in a series of setbacks for government forces in north-western Idlib. Earlier this year, militant groups captured the provincial capital, Idlib city, as well as other towns and villages. |