Syria rebels seize second military base

An Islamist faction of Syrian rebels captured an infantry base in the northern city of Aleppo, its fighters said, as rebels fighting to topple President Bashar Assad advance on the country’s largest city.

By The Newsroom

Published 17th Dec 2012, 06:00 BST

It was the second major army installation the rebels overran in a week in Aleppo, as the civil war closes in on Assad’s troops and fighting intensifies in and around the capital, Damascus. The fighters have also seized air bases near both cities in recent weeks.

A statement by the al-Tawheed Brigade said the rebels “fully liberated” the military facility in Aleppo on Saturday. It was posted on al-Tawheed’s official website yesterday and said the brigade’s commander, Colonel Youssef al-Jader know as Abu Furat, was killed in the battle for the facility.

Al-Tawheed Brigade is one of the largest rebel groups operating in Aleppo, which has been a major front in the civil war since July.

A video shows several rebels praying on the premises of the captured base. Armed fighters are also seen walking around the infantry school with slogans “Assad Forever” painted on the walls.

Syria