Syria rebels take key airbase, peace envoy downbeat
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This citizen journalism image provided by Edlib News Network (ENN), which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows a Syrian rebel posing next to a damaged Syrian air force helicopter, at Taftanaz air base that was captured by rebels, in Idlib province, northern Syria on Friday, Jan 11, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
DAMASCUS (AFP) - Rebels overran Taftanaz airbase in northern Syria on Friday, a watchdog said, in a significant advance, as talks between the United Nations (UN) peace envoy and United States (US) and Russian officials failed to make headway on ending the conflict.
"The fighting at Taftanaz military airport ended at 11am (5pm Singapore time) and the base is entirely in rebel hands," said Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Rami Abdel Rahman.
Soon afterwards, the base was raided by government jets, the Britain-based Observatory said.
"Warplanes are bombing Taftanaz military airport in an attempt to destroy it," a statement said.
