Rebels take control of air base in significant blow to Assad regime

Beirut: Syrian activists say Islamic militants seeking to topple President Bashar Assad have taken full control of a strategic northwestern air base in a significant blow to the Assad regime. The activists say rebels from the al-Qaida affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra and other Islamic groups seized control of buildings, ammunition and military equipment in the sprawling Taftanaz air base in northern Idlib province Friday. [caption id=“attachment_585136” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  AP[/caption] Taftanaz is the biggest field in the country’s north for helicopters used to bomb rebel-held areas and deliver supplies to government troops. Idlib-based activist Mohammad Kanaan said the fighters took control Friday morning after several days of intense fighting. Rami Abdul-Rahman, director of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it is the first major military airport to fall into rebel hands. AP