On the photo: A trophy tank
Syrian Mujahideen stormed an airbase of Alawites, al-Jarrah. Airfield along with 40 aircraft, command post and barracks came under the full control of Islamic fighters.
The airport, located near the city of Aleppo (see map), was used by the Alawite for air strikes on settlements of Muslims, writes UmmaNews .
Human rights activists report that the Mujahideen seized dozens of combat aircraft - including MiG fighter jets.
Speaking to the AFP news agency on condition of anonymity, a regime military source in Aleppo confirmed the capture after 48 hours of fierce combat. Alawites tried to downplay the success of the Mujahideen, claiming that the airport was reportedly "very small" and "used for training purposes", and the ammunition left there were unusable and that planes have long been "out of action".
During their assault on the airport, the Mujahideen killed, injured or imprisoned 40 Alawite thugs. Mujahideen used armored vehicles in the operation.
Soon afterwards, the Alawite air force used fighter jets to bombard the airport in hopes of dislodging the Islamic forces. Enemy warplanes also carried out raids near the international airport which has come under a Mujahideen assault.
Activists in Aleppo have told the AFP news agency that Islamic fighters in the north have shifted their focus from city battles to the capture of military airports and bases.
"They are important because they are an instant source of ammunition and supplies, and because their capture means putting out of action the warplanes used to bombard us", Abu Hisham, an Aleppo-based fighter, said via the Internet.
It is reported that Mujahideen from Ahrar al-Sham, included in the Islamic Front of in Syria, participated in the capture of al-Jarrah.
About a month ago, the Mujahideen took a helicopter base Taftanaz.
On Monday, the Mujahideen took control of the country's largest dam, Al-Furat, on the river Euphrates in Raqqa province, causing a strategic blow to the Assad regime.
The London-based Syrian Monitoring Centre for Human Rights reported that the Mujahideen from al-Nusra Front captured the dam, which continues to operate.
They guard the approaches to the construction, but do not go inside so not to give reason to the Alawites to start bombing it.
Mujahideen previously had taken under control the nearby town of Tabka (see map).
The head of the Syrian Human Rights Defenders Rami Abdur-Rahman called the Alawites retreat from the dam one of the greatest strategic defeats suffered by Assad's forces.
Mujahideen also control two dams on the Euphrates River.
Department of Monitoring
Kavkaz Center
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