(Zaman Al Wasl)- Syrian regime troops on Tuesday broke a more than two-year-old siege by the Islamic State group at a major military air base in the northern province of Aleppo.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said forces fighting on the side of the Syrian regime, including Lebanese and Iranian militiamen, have entered Kweires air base, which has been under attack for nearly two years.
The recent gain of Bashar al-Assad regime was bolstered by Russia warplanes that have been carrying out airstrikes in the area.
Regime-run state television reported the breakthrough and broadcast live from outside the airport, hailing the advance as a victory.
It said a “large number of ISIS terrorists” were killed.
Kweyris has been besieged by ISIS since spring 2014, but was surrounded by rebel groups before that.
ISIS fighters are still present in other areas around the base.
The assault comes a week after the Syrian army battled ISIS to regain control of a road southeast of Aleppo and took back control of the government's only supply route into the city.
Areas around Aleppo have seen weeks of heavy fighting after Syrian troops, backed by Lebanese and Iranian fighters, launched an offensive to retake surrounding territory from rebels and jihadi fighters.
The offensive has concentrated so far on clearing insurgent-held areas south of Aleppo rather than the city itself and is one of several assaults carried out by ground forces since Russian jets began airstrikes on Sept. 30 in support of Assad. (With agencies)
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said forces fighting on the side of the Syrian regime, including Lebanese and Iranian militiamen, have entered Kweires air base, which has been under attack for nearly two years.
The recent gain of Bashar al-Assad regime was bolstered by Russia warplanes that have been carrying out airstrikes in the area.
Regime-run state television reported the breakthrough and broadcast live from outside the airport, hailing the advance as a victory.
It said a “large number of ISIS terrorists” were killed.
Kweyris has been besieged by ISIS since spring 2014, but was surrounded by rebel groups before that.
ISIS fighters are still present in other areas around the base.
The assault comes a week after the Syrian army battled ISIS to regain control of a road southeast of Aleppo and took back control of the government's only supply route into the city.
Areas around Aleppo have seen weeks of heavy fighting after Syrian troops, backed by Lebanese and Iranian fighters, launched an offensive to retake surrounding territory from rebels and jihadi fighters.
The offensive has concentrated so far on clearing insurgent-held areas south of Aleppo rather than the city itself and is one of several assaults carried out by ground forces since Russian jets began airstrikes on Sept. 30 in support of Assad. (With agencies)
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