SYRIAN REBELS SEIZE KEY AIR BASE, ACTIVISTS SAY

[UnrepentantLiberal]

Source: AP

BEIRUT -- Islamic militants seeking to topple President Bashar Assad took full control of a strategic northwestern air base Friday in a significant blow to government forces, activists said.

The Taftanaz air base in the northern Idlib province is considered the biggest field in the country's north for helicopters used to bomb rebel-held areas and deliver supplies to government troops.

Rebels from the al-Qaida affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra and other Islamic groups have been fighting for weeks for control of the sprawling facility and broke into it on Wednesday evening. Activists said the rebels seized control of buildings, ammunition and military equipment after ferocious fighting at dawn.

"As of now, the rebels are in full control of the air base," said Idlib-based activist Mohammad Kanaan.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_SYRIA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[allrevvedup]

1. The "rebels" captured a strategic airbase, check.

With their slingshots and boomerangs, because they need an airbase to refuel their Kalishnakovs and home-made rocket launchers. This is getting more Orwellian by the day.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

2. Thry're going after the air bases so Assad can't use them

for his jets and helicopters.

[allrevvedup]

3. Last week Damascus was hit by an airstrike that killed 30.

One account reported British airplanes conducting the strikes, just like they did in Libya. Now the only stories I can find say Assad supposedly responsible.

Do you really think Assad is going to bomb his own cities with airstrikes? Really?

[UnrepentantLiberal]

4. Yeah, everyone is lying.

It's all a conspiracy.

[allrevvedup]

6. You didn't answer the question.

Call it what you want, but it's no secret that the UK sent special forces to Libya early on or that they were among the first to give diplomatic recognition to the Syrian "coalition." No secret that they're supplying them either, or that they've got us covering for them.

Citing a ‘Credible Alternative’ to Assad, Britain Recognizes Syrian Rebel Group
By NEIL MacFARQUHAR and HANIA MOURTADA
Published: November 20, 2012
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/21/world/middleeast/britain-is-latest-power-to-recognize-syrian-opposition-coalition.html?_r=0

[UnrepentantLiberal]

8. What does that have to do with Assad not being the one

who is responsible for the air bombardment of Syrian civilians. Care to post any kind of credible proof of that?

I see you've only been here a few months this time around. How did it go the last time? Or is this DU account a, eh, close friend?

[allrevvedup]

9. You still didn't answer the question.

If you have to rely on hominems you probably don't have an argument. No surprise there.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

10. I'm done with you.

Run along now.

[allrevvedup]

7. Nice links.

Impressive research.

[ButterflyBlood]

11. Oh no, Assad would never kill his own people

He's such a humanitarian after all and has no history of doing so.

[Throd]

12. Yes I do.

[Comrade Grumpy]

13. These are jihadis the US has designated as "terrorists." What a mess.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend?