Syrian rebels recapture military base in counteroffensive against army

Syrian rebels recaptured a base near the international airport in the northern city of Aleppo in a counteroffensive against the army.

The fighting on Saturday came as the main Western-backed opposition group was to begin a two-day meeting in Istanbul.

The group had to decide whether they will attend a proposed peace conference the US and Russia are trying to convene in Geneva, news.com.au reports.

In Aleppo, rebels fully recaptured the military base of 'Brigade 80' after government troops seized parts of it early on Friday.

The revelation was made Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Aleppo Media Centre.

The main job of 'Brigade 80' was to protect the government-held Aleppo International Airport, which has been closed due to fighting for almost a year.

Rebels had captured the base in February and now government troops are trying to get it back.

The Observatory said 40 rebels and more than 20 troops were killed in the latest fighting, which began Friday and continued early Saturday, the report said.