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Syria conflict: Jihadist rebels seize key Idlib airbase 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.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.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.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. 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 attack on Abu al-Duhur began in late August when militants used suicide attacks to seize the entrance to the airport and several positions on its outskirts.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the insurgents had captured "most" of the base, including the command centre. The report on Syrian state TV conceded that government troops had "evacuated their positions and moved to another point".
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. With the fall of the airbase the Syrian military has been completely driven out of Idlib province, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The activist group said local pro-government militia forces remained in two Shia villages in Idlib province but the army had now fully withdrawn.
The loss of the airbase is the latest in a series of setbacks for government forces in the region. Earlier this year, militant groups captured the provincial capital, Idlib city, as well as other towns and villages.
President Bashar al-Assad's regime has been at war against various rebel groups for the past four years, in a conflict that has so far killed at least 240,000 people.