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Syria rebels strike Assad's Alawite stronghold and seize airport

by Reuters

Syrian Islamist rebels have killed around 200 people in a three-day offensive in the mountain stronghold of President Bashar al-Assad's Alawite sect.

The video which can not be independently verified comes as activists say the relentless campaign has driven hundreds of villagers to seek refuge on the Mediterranean coast.

Since launching the surprise assault at dawn on Sunday, the mainly Islamist rebel brigades have captured half a dozen villages.

More footage appears to show rebels capturing a military airport north of Aleppo.

The twin offensives mark two major gains for Assad's foes after months of setbacks,

The moves highlight the challenge Assad faces in trying to restore his authority across Syria after two years of conflict that has killed 100,000 people and fragmented the country.

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