Al-Qaida, Nusra Front insurgents capture Syrian army air base

PanARMENIAN.Net - Syrian state television is reporting insurgents have captured an army air base northwest of the country after a two-year siege, the Associated Press reports.

The TV report Wednesday, September 9, said government forces at the Abu Zuhour air base "have evacuated their positions and moved to another point."

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said insurgents, including members of the Nusra Front, al-Qaida's affiliate in Syria, captured "most of the" base Wednesday, including the command center.

The capture of Abu Zuhour air base is the latest in a series of setbacks for government forces in northwestern Idlib province. Earlier this year, militant groups captured the provincial capital of Idlib, also named Idlib, as well as other towns and villages.