Syria army retakes key base near Aleppo

Syrian rebel carries improvised bomb in northern city of Aleppo Syrian troops have regained full control of a key base in northern Aleppo province near its international airport, state television said Sunday, after fierce clashes with rebels. "Our brave armed forces have complete control over Base 80," state television said in a breaking news alert.
The recapture of the base was confirmed by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an NGO, which has reported fierce fighting at the facility since Friday.
Rebels seized control of the base, responsible for securing the nearby Aleppo International Airport, in February.
But regime troops launched an attack on Friday, prompting clashes that have killed at least 95 people, the Observatory said, including 43 rebels, 20 jihadists and 32 government and pro-regime forces.
The Observatory said the Syrian army was backed by units from Lebanon's Shiite militia Hezbollah, which supports the Damascus government, and local pro-regime militias.
Aleppo international airport has been closed since the beginning of the year because of rebel fire.
Rebel forces earlier this year launched an operation to capture several military airports in Aleppo province, and have so far captured the Jarrah and Minnigh airports.
Aleppo airport and the adjacent Nayrab military airfield remain under government control.
Source: AFP