Syrian warplanes pound rebel positions in north

Opposition forces fail to capture base near Turkey border

9 May 2013, 2:14 pm

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Syrian citizens stand on the rubble of houses that were destroyed by government airstrikes in Aleppo, Syria, earlier this month (photo credit: AP/Aleppo Media Center)

BEIRUT (AP) — Anti-regime activists said Syrian warplanes were pounding rebel positions in two northern provinces.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the air force targeted opposition forces in the battle for the Mannagh air base outside of northern city of Aleppo. Rebels stormed the base near the border with Turkey on Sunday. They captured parts of it but could not hold on, because of the regime’s superior air power.

In neighboring Idlib province, there were heavy clashes outside several army bases near the government-controlled provincial capital. Government troops and fighter planes are hitting the rebels, the Observatory said.

Thursday’s fighting came a day after the announcement of a new US-Russian initiative to end two-year conflict through negotiations.