Dozens are dead after rebel forces in Syria stormed and seized a key military base that was supposed to protect the international airport in the northern city of Aleppo.  The raid netted several warplanes for the rebels.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says opposition fighters captured large parts of the "Brigade 80" base near the city's main civilian airport, and for the first time a fleet of deployable warplanes including MiG fighter jets.  Government troops abandoned the base after losing 40 comrades to fighting.

The regime sought to downplay news of its loss of the base, claiming the MiGs have long been out of action and there was little ammunition.

More than 60,000 people have lost their lives since protests against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in March, 2011 grew into full-scale civil war.