Syrian army breaks ISIS siege of key air base
Initial reports said pro-government forces were sent to relieve the siege managed to break the encirclement
Syrian regime troops on Tuesday broke a more than year-long siege by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group at a major military air base in the northern province of Aleppo.
A group of soldiers broke through ISIS lines west of the Kweyris airport and reached government troops inside the base, an AFP photographer at the scene said.
Troops fired into the air in celebration, he said.
State television also reported the breakthrough and broadcast live from outside the airport, hailing the advance as a victory.
It said a “large number of ISIS terrorists” were killed.
Kweyris has been besieged by ISIS since spring 2014, but was surrounded by rebel groups before that.
ISIS fighters are still present in other areas around the base.
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