Syria conflict: Fighting rages at Syria air bases

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

Rebels and regime forces have been battling for control of several air bases in Syria.

The government said it had repelled a huge attack on an air base near Aleppo while rebels claimed victory in another battle in the east of the country.

The rebels have increasingly targeted the air force in recent weeks, accusing it of launching attacks on cities with helicopter gunships and fighter jets.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19448107

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See also:

Syrian rebels 'seize air defence base'

Fighters take anti-aircraft rockets and 16 captives in attack on air defence facility in east, says UK-based group

Syrian rebels have seized an air defence facility and attacked a military airport in the east of the country, according to a UK-based monitoring group.

Saturday's attacks in the oil-rich province of Deir al-Zor follow rebel strikes against military airports in the Aleppo and Idlib areas, close to the border with Turkey.

The Syrian government has recently used helicopter gunships and fighter jets to attack rebels and residential areas.

Rebels in Deir al-Zor overran an air defence building early on Saturday, taking at least 16 captives and seizing an unknown number of anti-aircraft rockets, said Rami Abdulrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/01/syrian-rebels-air-defence-base?newsfeed=true

[al bupp]

1. The BBC's Jim Muir...

"Nobody now shrinks from calling this a full-scale civil war"