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Syria conflict: Rebels capture key Idlib army bases Syria conflict: Rebels capture key Idlib army bases
(about 3 hours later)
Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria and allied rebel groups have taken control of two key army bases in the northern province of Idlib, activists say.Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria and allied rebel groups have taken control of two key army bases in the northern province of Idlib, activists say.
Members of al-Nusra Front, supported by those from Jund al-Aqsa, captured Wadi al-Deif base on Monday after launching a fierce offensive on Sunday morning.Members of al-Nusra Front, supported by those from Jund al-Aqsa, captured Wadi al-Deif base on Monday after launching a fierce offensive on Sunday morning.
Ahrar al-Sham later joined their assault on the nearby Hamidiya base.Ahrar al-Sham later joined their assault on the nearby Hamidiya base.
Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad had until now managed to repel a number of assaults on the facilities.Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad had until now managed to repel a number of assaults on the facilities.
Situated outside the town of Maarat al-Numan and next to the country's main north-south motorway, they have been surrounded since 2012.Situated outside the town of Maarat al-Numan and next to the country's main north-south motorway, they have been surrounded since 2012.
'Completely liberated''Completely liberated'
A Twitter account run by al-Nusra declared on Monday morning that "Wadi al-Deif was completely liberated" and said the group was now removing mines.A Twitter account run by al-Nusra declared on Monday morning that "Wadi al-Deif was completely liberated" and said the group was now removing mines.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based activist group, said at least 31 government soldiers and 12 members of al-Nusra and Jund al-Aqsa had been killed in the fighting.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based activist group, said at least 31 government soldiers and 12 members of al-Nusra and Jund al-Aqsa had been killed in the fighting.
A local activist, Asad Kanjo, told the Associated Press that most of the troops at Wadi al-Deif had withdrawn before the base was overrun and headed to Hamidiya.A local activist, Asad Kanjo, told the Associated Press that most of the troops at Wadi al-Deif had withdrawn before the base was overrun and headed to Hamidiya.
But within hours, the Syrian Observatory reported that Hamidiya had itself been captured by al-Nusra, Jund al-Aqsa and Ahrar al-Sham.But within hours, the Syrian Observatory reported that Hamidiya had itself been captured by al-Nusra, Jund al-Aqsa and Ahrar al-Sham.
At least 15 soldiers, including an officer, were taken prisoner, it added.At least 15 soldiers, including an officer, were taken prisoner, it added.
Rebels are now believed to control much of the countryside of Idlib province, while government forces dominate the provincial capital - also called Idlib - and the nearby Qarmid base.Rebels are now believed to control much of the countryside of Idlib province, while government forces dominate the provincial capital - also called Idlib - and the nearby Qarmid base.
The Syrian Observatory said al-Nusra and Jund al-Aqsa had used tanks and other heavy weapons which they captured from the Western-backed Syrian Revolutionary Front last month. The Syrian Observatory said al-Nusra and Jund al-Aqsa had used tanks and other heavy weapons which they captured from the Western-backed Syrian Revolutionary Front (SRF) last month.
The defeat of the SRF was seen as a blow to US efforts to build a moderate rebel force to counter jihadist groups like al-Nusra and the rival Islamic State (IS), which controls large parts of Syria and Iraq.The defeat of the SRF was seen as a blow to US efforts to build a moderate rebel force to counter jihadist groups like al-Nusra and the rival Islamic State (IS), which controls large parts of Syria and Iraq.
The latest fighting comes as foreign ministers from European Union member states met in Brussels to discuss ways to implement a UN plan for a local ceasefire in the second city of Aleppo. The latest fighting comes as European Union foreign ministers expressed their full support for a UN plan for a local ceasefire in the city of Aleppo.
On Sunday, they met the UN special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, who believes the establishment of "freeze zones" will help de-escalate the conflict and allow for the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid. On Sunday evening, the ministers met the UN special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, who believes the establishment of "freeze zones" will help de-escalate the conflict and allow for the delivery of aid.
Government forces meanwhile seized the al-Malah area, north of Aleppo, threatening rebel supply lines into the city, activists said. Following talks in Brussels on Monday, the ministers said in a statement: "The EU will seek ways to provide practical support to his efforts, notably by contributing to the revival of local governance and administration, to the restoration of basic services and to the return to normalcy in areas of reduced violence, in particular in Aleppo, as conditions allow."
They also expressed concern about what they said was intensified military action against rebel forces by the government and warned that "cases of forced surrender imposed by the Assad regime through starvation sieges were labelled fallaciously as local cease-fires in the past".
Some 200,000 people have been killed since the uprising against President Assad erupted in 2011. Another 3.2 million people have fled Syria and 7.6 million have been displaced inside the country.Some 200,000 people have been killed since the uprising against President Assad erupted in 2011. Another 3.2 million people have fled Syria and 7.6 million have been displaced inside the country.