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Syrian rebels recapture northern military base near international airport

Associated Press
Published | Updated

This citizen journalism image provided by Aleppo Media Center AMC which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows a Free Syrian Army fighter firing an AK-47 during a battle against the Syrian army loyal to Bashar Assad, in Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Nov. 8, 2013. Syrian troops seized control of the suburb of Sabina from rebels on Thursday. State-run news agency SANA said the area had been used as a base to smuggle weapons and ammunition to rebel-held suburbs east of Damascus. Activists said Syrian troops launched a major offensive Friday to recapture the international airport of the northern city of Aleppo. (AP Photo/Aleppo Media Center, AMC) (The Associated Press)

This citizen journalism image provided by Aleppo Media Center AMC which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows a Free Syrian Army fighter aiming his AK-47 as he takes his battle position, in Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Nov. 8, 2013. Syrian troops seized control of the suburb of Sabina from rebels on Thursday. State-run news agency SANA said the area had been used as a base to smuggle weapons and ammunition to rebel-held suburbs east of Damascus. Activists said Syrian troops launched a major offensive Friday to recapture the international airport of the northern city of Aleppo. (AP Photo/Aleppo Media Center, AMC) (The Associated Press)

Activists say Syrian rebels have launched a counteroffensive in the northern city of Aleppo and recaptured a base near its international airport.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Aleppo Media Center say the rebels were able to fully recapture the site, the base for a unit called "Brigade 80," after government troops seized parts of it early Friday.

The main job of "Brigade 80" was to protect the government-held Aleppo International Airport, which has been closed due to fighting for almost a year.

Rebels captured the "Brigade 80" site in February and now government troops are trying to get it back.

The Observatory said 40 rebels and more than 20 troops were killed in the latest fighting, that began Friday and continued early Saturday.