BEIRUT -- Anti-regime activists say Syrian rebels have seized an air defence base belonging to the Syrian military near the northern city of Aleppo.
Videos posted online Friday show rebels inside the base, inspecting huge missiles and looting an ammunition depot.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and an Aleppo activist reached via Skype also reported the takeover of the base in al-Taaneh, east of Aleppo. The activist, Mohammed Abu Omar, said four rebels were killed in the overnight battle.
Syria is dotted with air defence bases built for use in possible wars with Israel. Rebels have stormed such bases before but have not succeeded in deploying their complex weapons.
Syria's uprising has become an all-out civil war since the uprising against President Bashar Assad started almost 19 months ago.
