Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria and allied rebel groups have taken control of two key army bases in the northern province of Idlib, activists say.
Members of al-Nusra Front, supported by those from Jund al-Aqsa, captured Wadi al-Deif base on Monday after launching a fierce offensive on Sunday morning.
Ahrar al-Sham later joined their assault on the nearby Hamidiya base.
Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad had until now managed to repel a number of assaults on the facilities.
Situated outside the town of Maarat al-Numan and next to the country's main north-south motorway, they have been surrounded since 2012.
'Completely liberated'
A Twitter account run by al-Nusra declared on Monday morning that "Wadi al-Deif was completely liberated" and said the group was now removing mines.
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