Al-Qaida-led rebels killed 56 Syrian government soldiers during an attack on an air base in Idlib province.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the soldiers were killed either during the capture of Abu al-Duhur air base or a short time later. The group said that 40 soldiers were taken prisoner. Many others were reported missing.

Rebels put videos on the Internet to show Nusra Front fighters exploring the air base in Idlib after seizing it. Syrian state television had confirmed government troops had left the base.