Rebels Have Taken The Largest Remaining Syrian Army Base In Idlib

Rebel fighters walk in Mastouma village, after they said they had advanced on the area, in Idlib city, May 19, 2015. Reuters/Ammar Abdullah

Reuters: Insurgents seize army base, tighten grip in Syria's Idlib province

Insurgents seized an army base in northwestern Syria from the military on Tuesday, compounding a series of setbacks for President Bashar al-Assad at the hands of rebel groups believed to have received extra backing from his regional enemies.

The capture came as a top aide to Iran's leader met Assad in Damascus and underlined firm Iranian support as the Syrian government faces mounting pressure from insurgents in a four-year-old civil war.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said Syrian troops withdrew from Mastouma military base in Idlib province after heavy clashes with Islamist-led insurgents.

The troops headed towards the northern town of Ariha, one of the last government strongholds in the province, it said.

WNU Editor: This drip - drip of defeats is taking its toll, and speculation on the regime's ability to survive is increasing .... Assad's regime is brittle, and it may fall fast (Bob Bowker, The Interpreter).

More News On Syria's Rebels Seizing The Largest Remaining Syrian Army Base In Idlib

Syrian rebels 'seize largest remaining army base in Idlib' -- AFP
Syrian Insurgents Seize Last Military Base in Idlib Province -- AP
Syrian rebels take largest remaining army base in Idlib -- Middle East Monitor
Rebels take largest remaining army base in Syria's Idlib: monitor -- i24 News