Rebels Overrun Largest Military Airbase in North Syria
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Rebels Friday overran Taftanaz airbase in north Syria, a watchdog said, marking a significant advance
"The fighting at Taftanaz military airport ended at 11:00 am (0900 GMT) and the base is entirely in rebel hands," said Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Rami Abdel Rahman.
The base soon thereafter, however, came under aerial attack by government fighter jets, the Britain-based Observatory said in a later statement.
"Warplanes are bombing Taftanaz military airport in an attempt to destroy it," it said.
The capture of the base marks an important advance for the rebels, who control vast swathes of Syria's north and east and are battling President Bashar Assad's forces in most major cities, including on the outskirts of Damascus.
"This is the largest airbase to be seized since the revolt began" nearly 22 months ago, Abdel Rahman told Agence France Presse by phone.
The rebels have previously taken control of the relatively small Hamdan airport in Albu Kamal on the Iraqi border in the east, and the Marj al-Sultan military airport in Damascus province.
The assault on Taftanaz was led by jihadist fighters from the a-Nusra Front, Ahrar al-Sham and Islamic Vanguard battalions, as well as other rebel groups, the Observatory said.
Many soldiers and officers fled the base at dawn, while the total number of casualties for each side was not immediately known.
The rebels seized several military vehicles and a major weapons depot.
Government forces, however, managed to pull out most of the 60 helicopters deployed at the airbase, leaving behind 20 choppers that are no longer in working condition, the Observatory said.
The U.N. estimates more than 60,000 people have died since the outbreak of the revolt against Assad's regime in March 2011.
11 January 2013, 11:19
142
Yep go & keep going, The west spend billions to kill a Sunni terrorist here & there ..They are getting deleted by the 100s every day.
No the west will not intervene, this is far more effective way of eradicating this disease. Syria has become like honey to a bear, 1000's sign up every day to go fight their jihad war. The west don't rule the world for no reason, they know exactly whats happening. Go the free Sunni terrorists go lol. I'll help you cheer them on Mohamed.
11 January 2013, 12:06
91
Np ibnhabal, as long as you use Bin laden as your avatar. BTW go the Free Sunni Terrorists lol,
11 January 2013, 13:02
91
Is it meow or bark.. don't confuse yourself.
As for liberating a country. They have a better chance of seeing those virgins "Bin Laden" promised before that happens
11 January 2013, 13:26
27
yes that is why most of the northern borders and cities are now with the revolutionaries right? go watch dunya and almanar...
11 January 2013, 16:58
03
The roar
This tactic is working so brillantly that they are spreading its use to other infected regions.
Watch Mali, the fanatic Takfiri of North Africa who were ravaging the area, have been drawn to North Mali were they are now sitting in the middle of the desert exposed for attack and nowhere to flee...perfect trap.
11 January 2013, 17:17
11
anonyme, you are 100% right. Even this story that some celebrated before knowing exactly whats taking place. The Syrian army withdrew, let them in & bombed the FFFF out of that place. Now the U.N watchdog is crying foul about the heavy bombing by the regime at this base. Syria is using an old tactic of battle show them the carrot & withdraw. this lets them enter like the dumb Arabs they are & pathetically flush themselves into the open. Now it's easy to delete 100s at a time. But some believe every time they hear FSA took this & done that lol
11 January 2013, 18:03
01
so by your logic there were over 60,000 "terrorists" in Syria that magically decided to all wake up? the only terrorists are ASSad, nasrocrap and their thugs, and they re the ones that are being killed like today's attack on the military convoy going to meet ASSad...keep watching dunya though, you are going to be SO informed!
11 January 2013, 20:02
00
It is a war between iran and the sunis, what's your stupid point? Gone r the days when sunis dont shoot back, your syrian regime exchanged 2000 syrian heroes including women for 48 iranians, isnt that evidence that it is a war between iran and suni arabs?
11 January 2013, 16:51
12
Mohamed-ca
Don't u read, it is not FSA, it is the Takfiri fanatic groups.
Big difference. I wish they were FSA.
11 January 2013, 17:16
12
Atta boy mohammad...yes GO FSA! Slowly but SURELY cleaning house! Through the FSA's sacrifices....Lebanon will be freed as well from the tyrants/terrorists HA!
As to comments from the ignorant "the_BORE" below....go back to your herd of goats! Your a clueless bum!
11 January 2013, 21:44
00
"hizbcocaine supporter, or maybe FT the inbreed boty under another nick'.....LMAO TF
11 January 2013, 20:01
00
These rebels are not the Free Syrian Army (the FSA is controlled by KSA and the West). They are Jihadists made up of mostly thousands of foreign fighters. The largest by far is the NUSRA front, which Zionist America put them on the "terrorist list" because America does not control them. The Syrian Army backed by over 100,000 Baathist militias from ALL SECTS (and especially the non-Sunni minorities) are strengthening their positions around the country and purposely weakening their positions in the Aleppo/Idlib area. It is in the regime's interest to loose areas to the Al-qaida linked groups than to the FSA. America and the West prefer the Asad's who have kept the Golan Heights quiet for Israel than the Rebels. They just want to see Arab blood spilled.
11 January 2013, 20:19
00
My internet keeps on getting stuck, then it (sometimes) prints several times. Is it because I am in Lebanon or I have lousy connections?
11 January 2013, 11:20
82
Yes gr8 job geha. The more terrorists deleted the better I say.
Keep cheering geha I'm right behind you lol
11 January 2013, 10:34
102
good job? do you support religious extremism? do you want syria under sharia law? do you want ethnic cleansing and the genocide of syria's minorities?
11 January 2013, 12:56
110
first priority is to oust bashar and the dictatorial baath party that did more harm to lebanon than any other country. then if salafis take power it will be another fight... but stop being frightened as M8 wants you to! they want to preserve bashar and his clique that is why they frighten lebanese with sharia laws and wahabi regime!
but if it happens then if will be another combat :) every thing in its time !
11 January 2013, 14:35
07
Agreed. What's to come cannot possibly be worse than what has palgued us for the last 40 years.
11 January 2013, 20:10
00
"will be another combat"??? did the M14 forces fought bravely in 2005 and kicked out the Syrian Army? The Jihadists do not pay attention to any political or economic pressure in Lebanon or anywhere else like the Syrian government did in 2005! Be careful what you wish for (and this is not coming from M8).
11 January 2013, 12:41
26
Rock and roll baby! Now head down to burnt out Damascus and finish the job
11 January 2013, 12:59
33
I am amazed no syrians are making comments here, only lebanese cheerleaders.
11 January 2013, 17:15
13
Maybe because they are too busy running away from ur murdering idol. Jcamerican. How come you have the name of the great Satan in ur alias? Didn't Hassan and bashar teach ypu that the west is evil? Hypocrit.
11 January 2013, 17:39
10
Don't make me pluck your feathers. Your answer should have been, I represent the rebels and the others Bashar so no need for the Syrians. Look you dropped your baton and pompons.
11 January 2013, 17:05
11
Again read carefully
It is not FSA, it is the fanatic takfiri gang.
Everyone wish they were FSA.
Have you read the article about their fanatic shariaa courts that these takfiri gangs have been installing in areas under their control.
FSA on other hand have installed secular councils and courts in their areas.
11 January 2013, 13:34
28
Al Kafi said it best. Karim and Roar need to go pay your energy bills.
11 January 2013, 14:51
32
lol FT... Btw I do not pay for my electricity..In fact each quarter I receive a cheque from the energy company. Maybe you will get with the times & install solar energy canadianadam & kafi.
As a side note..is solar energy being or has been promoted in Lebanon FT?
11 January 2013, 14:58
06
yep. solar energy is being promoted. (you can produce solar energy and EDL will buy it from you) But without state subsidies (like in the west), it makes no commercial sense yet, hence the lack of enthousiasm. When the barrel of Brent reaches 150, it will be another story.
11 January 2013, 15:02
11
Thx lebanon_first. & I must say I'm pleasantly surprised with what you have just said. The Lebanese should make incentives like the west in order for the people to embrace it like you say.
11 January 2013, 17:20
00
Ha ha ha.....the Bore and the whore joining forces....LMAO. Then again they are one the same.....FARSI BSThrower!
11 January 2013, 15:05
02
Hi Roar, how was the New Year mate? Not much is being done in the way of Solar or clean energies here. It's sad because to prove my point, just after that big storm we went thru, we now have sunshine and for days to come. Where else would one get sunshine in the dead of Winter? As usual, we're missing on a lot. I firmly believe that the state doesn't want to pay us for return of energy, even less, they want us to pay for services we never get!!I am abstaining from political discussions for a while, because of the level of acrimony we're still witnessing in this forum. Take care bro.
11 January 2013, 15:10
22
Hi Phoenix & welcome back brother. New years was gr8 thx hope yours was just as good. Kinda missed your thoughts though Phoenix. Keep posting mate & ignore the riff raff talk. Your posts are one of the few I read to compare true debates on topics that concern Lebanon. Btw Phoenix I assume you live in Lebanon, then I suggest you all should protest this solar movement & save the Lebanese the increasing energy bills & save on green house emissions at the same time. I hear Lebanon is very polluted already...anyways keep posting mate, your posts are always read & respected.
11 January 2013, 17:13
11
Don't worry Karim ur great leader aoun said it will be over on Thursday in the year 2011, he is getting into his delorian with doc and will travel back in time to watch it all end!
11 January 2013, 17:38
01
Hi Roar, thanks for the greetings. True, I live in Lebanon, but you see bro, most of the Lebanese do not protest for things like these, they will protest for other things that carry less importance, but not such things. Yes, Lebanon is highly polluted and we are paying our hearts out for everything, especially for the Mafia Electricity suppliers, they are a rip-off to be honest. Just today, some people who got truly tired of the power blackouts have demonstrated and burnt tires, quite frankly it is difficult to do anything without proper power, heating most importantly, it's gonna cost people a lot on health issues. Will come back as soon as I can. Take care Roar.
11 January 2013, 17:40
14
If you live in Dahiyeh you dont pay your energy bill it's common knowledge in Lebanon and it's true.
11 January 2013, 20:10
01
This is a major goal in the regime net, the largest airport in the north with dozens of helicopters is not a small matter. M8 die in ur anger, you are criminals who kill syrian children.
