EXCLUSIVE: Syrian Army in Full Control over Strategic Military Airbase in Sweida

The Syrian military sources strongly rejected some media reports that the terrorists have seized control of a strategic airbase in Sweida province in Southern Syria.
The Arabic-language Al-Jazeera TV satellite network and some western media reported that a group of terrorists had taken control of some parts of Al-Thalaa military airbase in Sweida province.

But sources in Syria told FNA on Friday that the country’s “army has full control over Al-Thalaa base in Sweida province”.

The military sources said that the Syrian army had pushed back the terrorists from the vicinity of Al-Thalaa airbase.

The Syrian army and the terrorists engaged in heavy fighting in the surrounding areas of the military base.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, reported that the fighters withdrew from the vicinity of Al-Thalaa airbase under heavy government fire.

“Opposition fighters withdrew from areas … after heavy aerial bombardment and the arrival of reinforcements from the National Defense Forces and Popular Committees,” said Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman.

Syria has been grappling with a deadly crisis since March 2011. The violence fueled by Takfiri groups has so far claimed the lives of over 210,000 people, according to reports. New figures show that over 76,000 people, including thousands of children, lost their lives in Syria last year.