Damascus: The Al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and like-minded groups Friday captured tanks, munitions and troop carriers from two Syrian military bases they had stormed days earlier in northwestern Syria, a monitoring group reported.
The Nusra and other extremist groups seized 35 tanks, 20 armoured vehicles loaded with munitions as well as 1,500 tank shells from the Wadi al-Daif and Hamidiyeh military bases, which had been stormed by the radical groups a few days ago in the countryside of the northwestern province of Idlib, Xinhua reported citing the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The seized weapons are enough for the Nusra and its affiliates to open a front, whose battles could last for months, said the Britain-based observatory that relies on a network of activists on ground.
Syrian war jets also carried out five airstrikes against the towns of Abu al-Duhur, Rasm Zu, Rafieyeh and the vicinity of Abu al-Duhur military airbase without news on losses among the rebel groups, according to the Observatory.
The Syrian war jets also targeted the rebel-captured al-Hamidyeh base with two strikes, killing one person and wounding others.
The Al Qaeda-linked groups have been fighting to establish a foothold in Idlib to cover up its losses in the northern province of Aleppo and other areas in southern Syria, military experts say.
